Medicaid and managed care: opportunities for innovative service delivery to vulnerable populations.

The crisis in state "safety-net" funding for high-need, high-risk, high-cost vulnerable populations has led to the development of creative strategies and financing mechanisms by the states for delivering essential community-based services. This is also an opportunity for private-sector providers who can recognize the special needs of these populations, form links with other key constituencies and apply managed care concepts to long-term health and human service delivery.