Mental Health and Social Policy: The Emergence of Managed Care

Just a few years ago there was much optimism that the American health care system would be reformed and that we would have a system of universal insurance entitlement with few people uninsured. The realization that full mental health benefits would only be financially acceptable within a managed care framework suggests the importance of managed care as an instrument for achieving broader coverage at an acceptable cost. Yet, it remains to be seen to what extent the marketplace will direct the future development of managed care and what role professional agencies, government, and consumer organizations will have in making managed care organizations accountable to the public. This book takes a multidisciplinary approach to mental health and social policy. It covers mental health issues such as definitions of mental disorders, the epidemiology of mental illness, case management, community treatment, mental health research, and questions of policy. It also includes the definitions of disability and the links to federal programs and housing and employment services that will be of special interest to social workers. Mental health care providers, social workers, and therapists.