Delivery of Sexually Transmitted Disease Services in Medicaid Managed Care

This report examines the extent to which managed care organizations (MCOs) that serveMedicaid beneficiaries are promoting effective management, control and prevention of sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs) among their enrollees—and whether these organizations’ policiescorrespond with the actual practices of the primary care providers in their networks.In 1996 alone, 15.3 million new STD cases were reported in the United States, and theprevalence of these infections is even higher due to the accumulation of viral non-treatable STDcases. Beyond the suffering caused directly by a particular disease, STDs can lead to infertility,pregnancy complications, cancer, and a greater susceptibility to HIV infection, among othercomplications. The advent and dramatic growth of Medicaid managed care plans increases theimportance of MCOs’ policies and programs to combat STDs, particularly since the Medicaidpopulation of mostly low-income women and children includes a large proportion of ind ividualswho are considered at higher risk for STDs