This article responds to the American Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide. The author concurs with the importance alloted to suicide prevention, however critically examines the influence of managed care on access to suicide prevention/intervention programs. He states that case-by-case reviews are odious & dangerous if based on incorrect & outmoded criteria, such as requiring suicidal patients to have & reveal a current plan for suicide in order to qualify for psychiatric admission. (3 refs) (SC)