RX - CAPITATION - A BITTER PILL FOR THE NEAR FUTURE - 2400 AMERICAN DERMATOLOGISTS IN THE YEAR 2000

Managed care is moving West to East, as noted in the article by Lazaru s in the December 1994 issue of the ARCHIVES.(1) California is 75% man aged care, and 35% fully capitated. It took Minnesota the better part of 10 years to reach fourth, or endstage managed care (capitation). It has taken California, the nation-state, 2.5 years so far. My personal prediction is now for full capitation within 18 to 24 months based on the gargantuan inroads capitation has made in the California metropol itan regions of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay and San Diego ar eas. San Diego has already felt the squeeze, with some dermatologists going elsewhere 1 week or so per month to nonserved areas in order to supplement their income.