Mental Health and Managed Care

In this essay I continue the conversation going on today on the crisis in delivering mental-health care within the realities of managed care. A guiding perspective is represented briefly in material from the writings of Edmund Pellegrino. He recommends the norm of patient-centered relationships to direct and govern managed care so cost can be controlled, but not by the sacrifice of quality of care. This emphasis must be balanced with a struggle for the greater social good and fair allocation of goods to all citizens. Definitions are offered along with a discussion of controversial issues and constructive suggestions to make possible a better future for the work of mental health in relation to managed care.