Number of people hostile toward managed care decreasing

AORN Journal, Jan, 2003

The number of people who are critical of managed care has declined, according to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Between Sept 19 and 23, 2002, 1,011 adults were interviewed by telephone, and results of the 2002 survey were compared to the results of a survey conducted in 2000. The number of people who believe managed care is "a bad thing" declined from 52% in 2000 to 44% in 2002, and the number who believe managed care will "harm the quality of medical care" declined from 59% to 51%. These findings, however, do not indicate that more people think managed care will improve the quality of medical care. They indicate that an increased number of people think it will not make a difference or are not sure.

The chairman of Harris Interactive thinks this decrease may be due in part to a decline in physician hostility toward managed care. Although this is good news for the industry, the survey did reveal some bad news, including that hostility is much stronger among upper class, more educated people compared to those who are poor and less educated. The survey also did not find improvement on the cost containment issue. In 2000, 39% of those surveyed felt managed care would help contain costs. In 2002, this number decreased to 34%.

According to the survey, Republicans and independent voters are more critical of managed care compared to Democrats. This is interesting because in the US Congress, Republicans typically support managed care and Democrats typically support fee-for-service Medicare.

The following information further outlines the differences between those with varying education levels and different political affiliations.

* In regard to managed care containing costs, only 41% of those with no college education say it does not help contain costs compared to 69% of those with postgraduate education. Fifty-eight percent of independents and 51% of Republicans believe this, compared to 47% of Democrats.

* Forty-two percent of respondents with high school diplomas say managed care will harm the quality of care compared to 66% of those with postgraduate education. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans and 56% of independents share this view, compared to 48% of Democrats.

* Thirty-six percent of those with no college education think the trend toward managed care is a bad thing, and 63% of those with some college education feel this way. Forty-nine percent of Republicans and 51% of independents share this view, compared to 40% of Democrats.

While Managed Care is Still Unpopular, Hostility has Declined, Says Harris Interactive Research (news release, Rochester, NY: Harris Interactive, Oct 22, 2002) http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/printerfriend.asp?Ne wsID=534 (accessed 18 Nov 2002).