Mind body medicinePutting mind over health matters

As MCOs grapple with the challenges of improving outcomes and qualityof care, there's one tool many are ignoring-the power of patients' minds.Despite studies that show teaching basic mental coping skills and relatedstress-reduction techniques can benefit patients and plans alike, few planshave embraced mind-body medicine to date. Those that have, however, arefinding it can improve patients' lives while in some instances cutting utilizationrates by as much as half.