Ethical rehabilitation counseling in a managed-care environment

The influence and pervasiveness of managed-care organizations (MCOs) on ethical rehabilitation practice presents a major challenge for our field. This article discusses ethical problems that rehabilitation counselors (RCs) face as they practice within a managed care environment. Ethical concerns are historically reviewed and the unified code of ethics is discussed. The evolution of MCO cost-containment practices is highlighted and critical vocational rehabilitation (VR) issues are examined. Implications for practice are presented.