Physician lists his HMO concerns

You know you are at the HMO doctor if........the doctor lists several warning signs to see if "shared risk" or patient care is foremost...BD

HMOs are large business organizations. They buy and sell contracts for healthcare from the major healthcare providers. Health- insurance policies are bundled and traded as commodities. People are collected, traded and sold as "patient lives." Your local HMO gets paid a fixed amount per head per month. It is on a fixed budget. If a physician provides "cost-effective" healthcare, the profit is then given back to the physicians and administrators as a "bonus," rather than a kickback. This is called a "Shared Risk Program."

Avoid physicians who make you wait for hours. These physicians are rushed and stressed. Avoid HMOs that stubbornly refuse a referral to a specialist. Most of all, avoid physicians who perform multiple tests and never give you the results.

If the above occurs, find another doctor and insurance policy. Easier said than done! The large healthcare providers are a monopoly. They do not provide real choices. Alternatives to HMOs are usually priced so high, they are out of reach for most.