Managed care in the 1990s: providers' new role for innovative health delivery.

While traditional HMO and PPO plans have not gained the widespread acceptance their founders once predicted, managed care concepts are penetrating health care as never before. Hospitals, physicians and employers are embracing principles like utilization management, preadmission certification and case management, and looking beyond such elementary devices to integrating finance, administration and delivery. Attracting strong primary care physicians and bonding closely with them are key elements, one expert says. Meanwhile, innovative new Medicaid managed care networks are proving cost-efficient and beneficial to patients.