Managed care is a system of healthcare delivery that seeks to control costs and improve quality by managing the health care services that a patient receives. This is typically done by contracting with a specific network of providers who agree to provide services at a lower cost in exchange for a larger volume of patients. Managed care organizations often use tools such as gatekeeping, utilization management, and coordination of care to control costs and ensure that patients receive appropriate, high-quality care. This model is widely used in the United States and has been credited with helping to slow the growth of healthcare costs in recent years.