Convergence and Dissonance: Evolution In Private-Sector Approaches to Disease Management and Care Coordination.

Disease management approaches survived the 1990s backlash against managed care because of their potential for consumer-friendly cost containment, but purchasers have been cautious about investing heavily in them because of uncertainty about return on investment. This article examines how private-sector approaches to disease management have evolved over the past two years in the midst of the movement toward consumer-driven health care. Findings indicate that these programs have become standard features of health plan design, despite a thin evidence base concerning their effectiveness.