This volume explores policy, programmatic, and research issues in the health and behavioural health care system known as managed care. Discussions include such areas as the evolution of health care from essential social good to a commodity, cost of and access to care, parity of behavioural health services reimbursement and more.

This book provides a broad analysis of the policy, programmatic, and research issues surrounding managed care services delivery systems that provide the majority of health and behavioral health care services in the United States. By including an interdisciplinary group of authors and addressing multiple fields of practice including health care, gerontology, child welfare, substance abuse, and mental health, the editors provide a broad overview of "macro" managed care issues.