title: Who needs the middleman?
abstract: Provider-sponsored organizations say they keep third party players from meddling in the doctor-patient relationship. While their viability is uncertain, their focus on quality is raising the competitive stakes.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D016363:Antitrust Laws; D019058:Community Networks / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D004465:Economic Competition / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D007484:Iowa; D008910:Minnesota; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013714:Tennessee; D014481:United States