Define "managed care."

Managed care refers to a comprehensive approach designed to manage the cost, utilization, and quality of healthcare services. This integrated system often encompasses various health care delivery methods, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and others aimed at providing coordinated care to patients.

The key aspect of managed care is that it prioritizes both cost management and quality of care, typically through strategies such as care coordination, preventative services, and the use of a network of providers. By managing healthcare services in this way, managed care organizations aim to encourage efficiency while ensuring that patients receive necessary treatments and interventions.

The focus on integrated systems positions managed care as a method that not only seeks to reduce unnecessary healthcare spending but also emphasizes the overall health outcomes of individuals, thus fostering a higher standard of quality in patient care. Through various quality improvement initiatives, managed care strives to achieve better health outcomes while controlling costs, making this definition accurate and encompassing of the principles of managed care.