Fighting fire with fire: physicians blazing new paths to autonomy

Thousands of physicians around the country have stopped complaining about being burned by the system and have started reengineering their destinies. They're building super IPAs, forming and operating HMOs, and joining unions to represent their rights in a growing grassroots physician effort to regain control. These physicians have thumbed their noses at managed care companies they say have drastically cut reimbursements, arbitrarily dropped them from panels, dictated utilization, and cost them patients. They're tired of working harder and earning less and frustrated by sacrificing quality in the name of cost reduction. And they have learned that there are ways to prevail.