PARAMETERS OF MANAGED MENTAL-HEALTH-CARE - LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES

Managed care legislation to date has established few parameters for ensuring the delivery of quality mental health services. Enabling statutes have frequently removed legal and financial obstacles to the creation of new managed care entities but given short shrift to the potential adverse consequences of cost containment. In the absence of legislative controls, it is necessary to look to a variety of other means to prevent the adverse impact caused by cost containment. Within psychology, professional standards, ethical principles, and the risk of malpractice provide certain practitioner guidelines. This article reviews the major legal, ethical, and professional parameters available to guide practitioners and managed care entities. It also proposes strategies for ensuring that cost containment does not compromise quality mental health care.