Heart disease and managed care.

Abstract

Although the use of beta blockers has measurably improved the state of cardiac care in the United States, more work remains to be done. Other meritorious interventions for cardiovascular conditions that deserve attention by MCO's. Given the continuing clinical and and cost burden of heart disease, MCO's can use the lessons learned from the success of beta blockers in other important areas of cardiovascular care, including longer-term beta-blocker therapy, treatment of lipid disorders, and use of aspirin and thienopyridine derivatives.