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This book offers a systematic overview of the organisational forms and management instruments implemented in managed care. Advocates consider managed care to be a logical and necessary developmental step in modern healthcare systems.

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This textbook on Healthcare Management provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of the organisational forms and management instruments implemented in managed care.

Within the international discussion on the structure of healthcare systems, managed care is an increasingly important topic. Over more than twenty years managed care approaches have fundamentally influenced healthcare systems in terms of patient orientation, efficiency, and quality. Experts assume that up to 20% of healthcare expenses can be saved by applying high-quality managed care approaches. By using suitable organisational forms and management principles, not only can costs be reduced, but the quality of medical service provision can be augmented. Managed care is therefore much more than a cost-cutting strategy.

Advocates consider managed care to be a logical and necessary developmental step in modern healthcare systems. An increase in quality and at the same time a reduction of costs is not seen as contradictory but rather as consistent. Therefore, managed care is a response to changed challenges in the provision of healthcare.

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Part I: Basic Ideas of Managed Care .- Definitions and Concepts.- Main Characteristics of the American Healthcare System.- Theoretical Concepts for the Assessment of Managed Care.- Part II : Managed Care Organisations and Products.- Preliminary Remarks.- Insurance-Based Managed Care Organisations and Products.- Provider-Based Managed Care Organisations and Products.- Institutions in the Managed Care Environment.- Conclusion.- Part III : Managed Care Instruments .- Contract Design.- Compensation Systems.- Quality Management.- Cost Management.- Evaluation Procedure.- Part IV : Evaluation of Managed Care.- Preliminary Remarks.- Cost Effects of Managed Care.- Quality Effects of Managed Care.- Access Effects of Managed Care.- Acceptance of Managed Care.- Conclusion.

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Dr. Volker Eric Amelung is Professor for International Healthcare System Research at the Medical University of Hannover. Professor Amelung is also the president of the German Managed Care Association (BMC), Berlin. BMC, a leading independent healthcare association, elaborates innovative concepts in healthcare management and healthcare policy. Volker Eric Amelung is a member of several national and international healthcare associations and internationally affiliated with healthcare management professionals. His research focuses on healthcare policy, managed care and healthcare systems. He is a prolific author on issues of managed care, healthcare policy, new technologies, and integrated delivery systems.

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