Final answer:
The false statement about managed care is that it provides incentives for overtreatment (option a). Managed care aims to control costs by reducing overtreatment, providing care based on a fixed fee or combination payment structure, rather than compensating providers for each service as in fee-for-service models. The answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
In examining which statement regarding managed care is false, we should first understand what managed care involves. Managed care typically refers to a system where the insurance company or another third party administers the provision of healthcare services, with an emphasis on controlling costs and improving the quality of care. Such systems can include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and other types of plans. The options presented in the question are:
- It provides incentives for overtreatment.
- It has helped to control medical costs.
- It limits patients' choice of doctors.
- It provides incentives to keep patients healthy.
Considering the provided information, the false statement is that managed care provides incentives for overtreatment. In fact, managed care often includes measures to reduce overtreatment, as providers are typically compensated with a fixed amount per patient or through a combination of managed care and fee-for-service arrangements. In contrast, the fee-for-service system may encourage unnecessary treatments since providers are paid for each service rendered. Therefore, option (a) is false.