A report card on HMOs.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Public perception of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) is often negative, with widespread patient anxiety regarding quality of care.
• Previous studies have not comprehensively assessed patient experiences across diverse geographical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the actual quality of care and patient satisfaction within HMOs nationwide.
• To contrast public perception with empirical findings on HMO performance.

Main Methods:

• A coast-to-coast survey conducted by Fortune magazine.
• Data collection likely involved patient feedback, provider assessments, and administrative metrics.

Main Results:

• The survey yielded surprisingly impressive results regarding the quality of care provided by HMOs.