The Health Maintenance Plan (HMP) of Wisconsin Physicians Service

The origin and development of the Health Maintenance Plan of Wisconsin are discussed in relation to participants in the plan, the Wisconsin Medical Society and its similarity to alternative health care delivery systems. The roles of primary, referral, and non-participating physicians are also described. The author suggests that relationships among physicians in the community remain collegial and that hospitals are not affected adversely. The elements which have contributed to the success of this plan, one of the largest in the United States, are discussed in general terms.