Medicare managed care: a consumer perspective.

As managed care grows in the Medicare program, Congress must act to instill greater confidence among beneficiaries that the options offered will provide available and accessible, high-quality care. There must be an effective set of comprehensive standards, applicable to all Medicare contractors, that will ensure proper safeguards and beneficiary protections. These include strengthening quality improvement/assessment and the grievance and appeals process. Adequate levels of assistance should be provided for beneficiary counseling programs. Finally, the Health Care Financing Administration must be given sufficient resources to effectively oversee the managed care program.