MANAGED CARE AND CARDIAC PACING AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

Managed care is having an increasing impact on the administrative and clinical practices of cardiovascular specialists including physicians providing cardiac pacing and electrophysiology services. This article provides an overview of the five key areas where managed care is affec ting cardiovascular practices including the following: (1) administrat ive burdens; (2) competitive/economic pressures; (3) cost/efficiency r equirements; (4) interference in the physician-patient relationship; a nd (5) disruption in physician-physician relationships. The issues ass ociated with each of these areas of concern are discussed in detail wi th specific examples that are relevant to cardiac pacing and electroph ysiology.