The provision of home health services through health maintenance organizations: the role of the physician.
The authors report the results of a comprehensive national study of the provision of home health care (HHC) through health maintenance organizations (HMOs), funded by a 1987 grant from the National Center for Health Services Research. The initial study included a literature review, interviews of 125 HHC providers and researchers, case studies of 6 HMOs, and a survey of 103 HMOs with Medicare contracts (as of March 1988). Upon discovery of controversy over the role of the HMO physician, the authors conducted an additional substudy of 30 primary care physicians. The article focuses on findings concerning the HMO physician in HHC and the implications for physicians generally, in light of what the larger study and additional data (January 1989-January 1990) show about HMO development and home health care.
Polich
C
C
United Health-Care Corporation, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Parker
M
M
Bernstein
L H
LH
Krulewitch
H
H
Fischer
L R
LR
Pastor
W
W
Pitt
L
L
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D006278:Medicare; D010819:Physician's Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012380:Role; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce