Market-Based Disparities in Foster Care Service Provision
Bowen McBeath1*
and
William Meezan2
1 Portland State University
2 The Ohio State University
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mcbeath{at}pdx.edu.
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Abstract |
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Objective: This study examines in-agency and out-of-agency service provision to a sample of 243 foster children and their families. Method: Data come from a longitudinal study of 243 foster children and families served by nonprofit agencies that were operating under either a performance-based, managed care purchase-of-service contract or a fee-for-service reimbursement mechanism. Results: Children and families served by agencies with performance-based, managed care contracts receive fewer of three of five types of services than those served by agencies reimbursed through fee-for-service contracts. Conclusions: Results suggest that performance-based, managed care contracting is related to suppressed service provision and may lead to service disparities between foster children and families served under different market environments.
