Healthcare Management Discussion

This a short answer discussion board Question.

Controlling healthcare costs requires a combination a reduction in procedure costs and a reduction in its utilization.  Benefit managers offer disease management programs for many chronic, and costly diseases for example diabetes, or COPD to assist beneficiaries use the most cost effective treatment plans.  Discuss the use of disease management plans by insurers as contrasted to a medical management plan prescribed by the patients physician.  Is this just a cost savings effort?  An effort to improve patient outcome? Or both?