Guiding Principles for Managed Care Arrangements for the Health Care of Newborns, Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Abstract

By including the precepts of primary care in the delivery of services, managed care can be a tool to increase access to a full range of health care clinicians and services. On the other hand, managed care can result in underutilization of appropriate services and reduced quality of care. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics urges the use of the principles outlined in this statement in designing and implementing managed care for newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults for several reasons. This policy statement replaces the 1995 policy statement, “Guiding Principles for Managed Care Arrangements for the Health Care of Infants, Children, Adolescents and Young Adults,” and outlines the key principles of managed care for newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.