Author : Mary Donovan
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780591719857
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (198 download)
Book Synopsis Ethics in the Context of Managed Mental Health Care by : Mary Donovan
Download or read book Ethics in the Context of Managed Mental Health Care written by Mary Donovan and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This qualitative, social constructionist study investigates attitudes and meanings about ethics in managed mental health care among psychotherapists working with clients referred by Preferred Provider Organizations or PPOs. In these PPOs (1) the therapist contracts with an insurance company for a reduced fee; (2) outpatient clients are referred to the therapist's private practice with initial authorizations for 1-10 sessions, and (3) detailed clinical reports must be submitted for authorization for further treatment. A literature review outlines the history and salient issues in managed mental health care and ethics in psychotherapy. the research employs a systematic, social constructionist, participatory and dialogic method which includes the investigator within the study. Five therapists, in addition to the investigator, engage in in-depth dialogue about experiences of ethically positive and ethically negative aspects of managed mental health care. Findings include therapists' opinions about client confidentiality, informed consent, the concept of "medical necessity" as basis for treatment authorization, and potentials for conflict of interest and undertreatment. Solutions to ethical questions proposed by the participants encompass techniques for fully informing clients about managed care procedures, methods of engaging managed care company employees in respectful collaboration, and reduction of the percentage of practice devoted to managed care. the participants recommend education of therapists about the workings of managed care, and call for dialogue among employers, managed care companies, clients, legislators and the general public about allocation of mental health services.