Rationale for a hospital-based managed mental healthcare service.

Managed mental health companies are gaining tremendous power in the delivery of behavioral health services. Contracts can literally shift market share from one facility to another in a matter of weeks. For most inpatient providers, managed mental health bodies ill in the forms of fewer admissions, shorter lengths of stay, and lower service fees. The first section of this article explains some of the factors driving the growth of managed mental health care. The second cites the benefits of developing a hospital-based managed mental health service.