Can consumers understand managed care report cards?

Research has not adequately assessed the effect of education, ethnicity, and culture on the ability of consumers to read and understand HMO report cards. Data on those three issues suggest that large segments of the population do not have the reading proficiency to understand and use current report cards. Without incorporating such factors, reports cards will not achieve broad use within the general population, but will only meet the needs of those consumers whose values are consistent with those of the report card developers.