Psychological Assessment in Managed Care

Managed care presents mental health professionals with new and difficult challenges. But, as this book clearly demonstrates, it also offers practitioners new opportunities for growth, especially with regard to psychological testing services. Although testing is subject to increased cost/benefit scrutiny under managed care, it has also acquired new utility in a variety of medical arenas —as a tool for level-of-care assignments, quality and risk management, and psychological/medical triage.

A combination reference, planning manual, and marketing guide, Psychological Assessment in Managed Care provides clinical psychologists with the expert guidance they need to successfully apply their unique psychometric and testing skills in the volatile world of managed behavioral health care. Clinicians and administrators alike will benefit from its detailed practical coverage of the new and emerging applications of both pencil-and-paper and automated psychological screening instruments.

The book begins with a concise history of managed care, from the first HMOs to the emerging capitated payment systems. Special attention is given to the integration of mental and general health services, and the implications of this trend for psychological screening in medical settings. This is followed by an exploration of the benefits of new test applications under managed care, including risk and liability management, treatment planning, and quality and outcomes measurement and management. This section closes with an arsenal of cost-offset techniques that enable psychologists to better market their testing services to managed care payers.

The final portion of the book is devoted to state-of-the-art automated testing systems. Dr. Stout shows how new technologies can significantly enhance the quality of assessment, while keeping costs down.

Psychological Assessment in Managed Care provides mental health professionals with a road map for successfully navigating the rocky terrain of today's managed health care system.

"Systems expert Dr. Chris Stout has performed his magic again. His insightfully crafted methods of assessment provide a clean and easy road map to making managed care user-friendly. Dr. Stout's seasoned advice shows providers creative uses for testing. A 'must' book for today's struggling provider who wants rapid solutions that work." —Douglas H. Ruben, PhD Clinical Psychologist

The first book focusing exclusively on the role of testing and assessment in today's changing mental health arena. Psychological Assessment in Managed Care provides clinicians and health care administrators with comprehensive coverage of nuts-and-bolts issues such as:

• Testing fee structures under managed care
• Gathering outcome data
• The most appropriate tests for specific situations and client populations
• New applications of assessment instruments for managed care
• The benefits and risks of automated testing systems under managed care