Opinions of disease management programs among medical directors of managed care organizations.

Medical directors of managed care organizations (MCOs) were surveyed about their views on disease management programs in their facilities. A survey was mailed to 600 MCO medical directors. The survey consisted of 14 Likert-type items related to disease management programs, 4 demographic items, and 1 item related to satisfaction. Seventy-nine usable surveys were received, for a net response rate of 14%. There were 48 medical directors (61%) with disease management programs at their MCO; 25 (52%) were working independently. A majority (71%) of programs were targeted at asthma. Seventy percent of the 48 medical directors were completely to somewhat satisfied and 13% dissatisfied to some extent with their disease management programs. Satisfaction was significantly related to the MCO's partnerships for these programs. A majority of medical directors agreed or strongly agreed that disease management programs could improve outcomes and decrease health care costs at their MCO, that an independent consultant could help analyze their MCO's prescription and medical data, and that they would be willing to accept grants or funds from pharmaceutical companies to initiate and support an independent disease management program at their MCO. MCO medical directors who responded to a national survey indicated that their organization could benefit from disease management programs, that internal resources might be insufficient to manage these programs, and that their MCO might be willing to contract with external organizations for support.