Healthcare reforms in Germany - Managed care, an opportunity?

Increasing healthcare expenditures and other economic pressures mandate fun damental reforms of the healthcare system in Germany. The overall goal is r estraint of costs while at the same time maintaining a high standard of med ical care. Among all options, managed care represents a potential solution, since it combines financing mechanisms and a care delivery system under th e control and direction of a single management entity. A core element of ma naged care is cost containment through structured guidance of healthcare pr oviders and patients. This has the potential to provide a higher level of c ontrol and promote greater transparency in the healthcare system. However, it remains to be seen if it is possible to adapt elements of managed care f rom other countries to the German healthcare system.