Success of Medicaid managed care using a public-private sector model.

This article provides an overview of Wisconsin's Mandated Medicaid Managed Care Initiative--the physician network--Wisconsin Independent Physicians Group (WIPG) that provides and manages the medical services for many of these Medicaid recipients and the public and private sector partnership that has helped to make this program successful. Special programs, such as the Prenatal Support Program, implemented by WIPG are described along with detail regarding the successful outcomes resulting from the programs. The article also includes the quality of care, improved outcomes and financial success of the Initiative when compared to the state's Medicaid fee-for-service program counterpart. Additional discussion includes capitation versus fee-for-services payments, mandated versus voluntary enrollment, and combining social services with medical services to improve health outcomes.