The report, being published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded that for-profit health maintenance organizations' moneymaking mission compromises care for its members. The results should further stir public angst about HMOs as Congress this week debates legislation to enhance HMO consumer rights. She said health plan performance varies significantly even within the same region and among plans owned by the same company. Industry officials criticized the study's authors for saying the results justify the need for a national health insurance system controlled by the government. In the study, researchers analyzed 329 HMOs for how well they performed 14 quality indicators such as prenatal care, infant immunization and breast cancer screening.
Eye exams are a crucial diagnostic test to measure how well diabetics are managing their disease.
That gives the HMO greater control of the doctor, and ultimately, patient care. For-profit HMOs, such as Aetna U.S. Healthcare, contract largely with the same doctors used by other HMOs. That system gives patients a greater choice of doctors, but reduces the impact an HMO can have on a physician's practice. That's because for-profits have to satisfy investors and pay higher wages to top executives. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved.