AMBHA Introduction


Directory of AMBHA Public Policy Statements (as of April 2000):
	AMBHA ASAM Joint Statement on Practice Guidelines Any Willing Provider Bill of Rights for Consumers Accessing Behavioral Health Services Clinically Appropriate Access to Medical Records Medicaid's IMD Prohibition Parity in Benefit Coverage: A Joint AMBHA-ASAM Statement Parity in Benefit Design Provider Sponsored Organizations (PSOs) Statement of Confidentality Statement on Co-occuring Disorders AMBHA ASAM Joint Statement Guideline for Credentialing and Privileging

Any Willing Provider

AMBHA advocates services provided in coordinated and integrated networks using the most cost effective services which rely on providers who deliver positive clinical outcomes and positive consumer satisfaction.

With these purposes, AMBHA opposes "any willing provider" legislation. Such laws would mandate managed care organizations to contract with any provider who is willing to meet the terms and conditions of the payment contract.

As of December 15, 1996, 28 states had any willing provider (AWP) laws on the books, but most only apply to pharmacists. Only five states ÷ Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky and Utah ÷ have laws broadly applicable to all providers.

Consumer choice is a public policy objective well served by AWP laws. But accountability (documented performance) and efficiency (resource conservation) are also public policy objectives. Choice must be balanced with accountability and efficiency. AWP laws fail the accountability and efficiency goals of public policy.

Carefully developed and selected networks allow choice and also promote accountability and efficiency. By limiting the number of providers in a network, managed care organizations are able to reduce administrative costs related to developing contracts, to monitor and better interrelate with providers, to negotiate lower rates by offering a higher volume of caseload, and to manage the quality of care through accountability, selective contracting, and efficient network management.

In designing provider networks, AMBHA agrees that the network must be comprehensive and flexible enough to offer the full continuum of necessary services and supports which are geographically convenient to consumers. AMBHA believes that some providers provide services better than other providers. Managing care means assisting the consumer to find the right provider in the right location with the best ability to provide a positive outcome for the consumer.

AMBHA Members: CMG Health, Inc., Owings Mills, MD; CNR Health, Inc., Milwaukee, WI; ComCare, Phoenix, AZ; Comprehensive Behavioral Care, Tampa, FL; CORPHEALTH, Fort Worth, TX; FPM Behavioral Health, Winter Park, FL; Green Spring Health Services, Columbia, MD; Human Affairs International, Salt Lake City, UT; Managed Care Washington, Seattle, WA; MCC Behavioral Care, Eden Prairie, MN; Options Healthcare, Inc., Norfolk, VA; PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Laguna Hills, CA; PLAN 21, Houston, TX; Principal Behavioral Health Care, Inc., Rockville, MD; United Behavioral Health, Minnetonka, MN; Value Behavioral Health, Falls Church, VA; Vista Behavioral Health Plans, San Diego, CA.

Further Information: ?E. Clarke Ross, D.P.A.,
?Executive Director, AMBHA
?January 1997