http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMO
This article has a good explanation of what the whole HMO concept is and how it has affected the entire health care system in the US.
Sometimes HMOs are good; they can save people money and/or make health insurance affordable.
Sometimes HMOs aren't so good; the dilly-dallying while getting approval of the primary care doctor's referral to specialists and other "bean-counter" types of actions can result in a patient's becoming sicker while waiting for the referrals to come through.
Everything comes with choices and options ... and decisions need to be made. If those decisions aren't made in a timely fashion, people's health deteriorate. On the other hand, for normally healthy people, HMOs can be a cost-saving way to go.
How has HMO influenced the current health care system?
4 answers
Sometimes HMOs make it very difficult on patients. Several years ago when my granddaughter was 12, she missed the vault at a gymnastics meet. It was obvious to the many observers that she could have broken her neck or back. Of course an ambulance was called and she was transported to the hospital. Fortunately she was not injured and returned to the meet within a couple of hours.
Their HMO questioned the hospital visit and my daughter spent a lot of time and energy convincing the HMO that the hospital was an absolute necessity.
Their HMO questioned the hospital visit and my daughter spent a lot of time and energy convincing the HMO that the hospital was an absolute necessity.
WATCH THE MOVIE BY MICHEAL MOORE! ITS GOOD but then again biased- but you can take your own views out of it!
What does this have to do with health care?
8 answers