More Doctors Choosing Not To Participate in Managed Care Plans

Doctors join managed care networks in order to build their practices by receiving a steady stream of patients. Managed care networks save money by negotiating discounted rates for care in exchange for these patient referrals. However, more and more doctors are forgoing network affiliation. The percentage of doctors who are not affiliated with managed care plans has increased from 9.2% in 2000-2001 to 11.5% in 2004-2005. Experts believe that this reflects increasing physician dissatisfaction with the low payment rates and administrative nightmares associated with being a "network" physician.