Research dollars avoid mature managed care markets
An Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that significantly fewer research grants were made to medical schools in markets heavily penetrated by managed care than were made to schools in other parts of the country.
Researchers examined the 115 medical schools that received National Institutes of Health research awards from 1986-1995. They found that 11% of the schools were in high managed care markets, 40% were in medium managed care markets, and 49% were in low managed care markets as of 1995.
The study suggests that changes in patient care associated with the move to HMOs somehow affected teaching hospitals’ ability to initiate the kind of research that attracts federal grants, according to study co-author Paul Griner, vice president of the AAMC.
Managed care industry officials disagree with the study’s conclusions, however. "The study’s findings do not support the conclusions. There is nothing that points a finger at managed care," says Susan Pisano, spokeswoman for the American Association of Health Plans.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content