Systems Ideologies and Street-Level Bureaucrats: Policy Change and Perceptions of Quality In a Behavioral Health Care System

Authors

Kimberly Roussin Isett, Columbia University
Joseph P. Morrissey, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
Sharon Topping, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2006

Department

Management and International Business

Abstract

This article examines the stability of street-level bureaucrats' negative perceptions regarding a newly implemented managed care system on quality of care and service delivery in a publicly funded behavioral health care system. Overall findings indicate that the generally negative perception of managed care did not differ between staff in the two programs, indicating a weak effect on attitudes of frontline workers. More proximal variables to the caregiver, such as service type and job title, show more influence on attitudes. The conclusion discusses the implications of these findings for practicing administrators and academic researchers.

Publication Title

Public Administration Review

Volume

66

Issue

2

First Page

217

Last Page

227

Recommended Citation

Isett, K. R., Morrissey, J. P., Topping, S. (2006). Systems Ideologies and Street-Level Bureaucrats: Policy Change and Perceptions of Quality In a Behavioral Health Care System. Public Administration Review, 66(2), 217-227.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/2489