Managed Care Handbook

Preface

Dear Consumer, Advocate and Friend,

In the Fall of 1996, The Shriver Center and Suffolk University began a series of seminars designed to educate and empower people with developmental disabilities, their families, and their caregivers to the complexities of the managed care system. To this end, the Managed Care Handbook was created. At the training seminars, participants included people with developmental disabilities and their family members, providers and advocates. This handbook is a compilation of wishes, suggestions and needs as identified by this diverse group. It is the hope of the staffs at The Shriver Center and Suffolk University that this publication becomes an essential reference as consumers and their advocates successfully utilize managed care systems.

The Managed Care Handbook was funded by The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and is a joint endeavor between the Shriver Center and Suffolk University.

We hope to periodically update this handbook, and welcome your suggestions for additional information to include. Please send your ideas and comments to: