Publication Date: February 3rd, 1996
Publication Type(s): Working Paper
Topic(s): Health Services
Author(s): Christianson, J., Hart, J.P.
Where managed care options are being introduced in rural areas, employers frequently are at the forefront, forming health care coalitions with local providers or soliciting bids from providers, who are typically asked to create or join provider networks that accept financial risk. This article describes and analyzes the early experience of a large rural employer — the State of South Dakota — in developing and implementing a managed care option for its employees in one community. It discusses several aspects of that experience that raise issues for other rural employers and providers, and identifies related questions of interest for health services researchers.