| Abstrakt: |
This article focuses on the impact of managed care on the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The basic concepts of managed care have evolved and are continuing to evolve over time. After rising sharply during the 1970s and I 980s, overall healthcare costs in the U.S. have leveled in the 1990s. This control of healthcare costs can be attributed, at least in part, to the dramatic growth of managed care. This paradigm shift from a largely fee-for-service to a managed care environment has affected every aspect of the healthcare system, including the pharmaceutical industry. Managed care organizations have helped to bring healthcare costs under control through a variety of strategies, including controlled access to healthcare providers, health plan benefit limitations, and restrictions, including pharmacy benefits and products, and capitated reimbursement systems. |
