Scientific Bases for Clinical Practice in Managed Care

Abstract

A clinical child psychologist was denied membership on a managed care panel ostensibly because the company wanted mostly generalists who would see anybody referred to them. This clinician appealed the decision in a meeting with the provider relations director using a briefing letter describing the benefits of specialty training in services to children, adolescents, and families. She provided additional information on “medical costs offset” when brief psychotherapeutic treatments for children were employed (techniques previously demonstrated to be in this clinician’s armamentarium). The clinician was eventually added to the panel and referred a number of clients utilizing her special skills.