Dr. McCall-Perez is president of Group Practice Consultants, Inc., 1717 Bayshore Drive, Suite 1756, Miami, Florida 33132. from payers-in this case, employers. Because of increased costs, employers trying to provide a mental health benefit are faced with the choice of further restricting benefits, increasing employees’ contributions, or carving out the mental health benefit and using a managed mental health came firm. Most employers select more than one option and turn to managed care to help them contain costs. I have been employed by several national managed cane firms and have conducted extended interviews with employers seeking ways to contain the costs of mental health came. During this process, employers typically identify needs based on their quality standards, which are based on their beliefs about improving the quality of workers’ lives-and thus productivity. Employers are accustomed to finding a good solution to an identifled need, which is quickly transformed into a specific want. Managed care firms have been more than willing to offer specific services to address what employers want. On the basis of many interviews with employers who wish to provide mental health and substance abuse benefits, I have identified 1 4 typical wants. Table 1 presents specific features of mental health benefits that employers want and the reasons they want them. Services offered by managed care firms to address these needs are also described.