The topic of this post is one that is more complicated than it sounds. There are of course valid reasons for HMOs to be terrified of universal healthcare legislation. There also reasons HMOs (or at least some version of them) can remain hopeful about their future in whatever healthcare model is eventually adopted by the U.S.
Still, what are some of the reasons? Are they valid ones or are they based on speculation or misinformation?
Perhaps, the single biggest reason is the loss of money. HMOs are the mechanism for managing the operations and services of the healthcare system today. Much of their focus is on the profits they generate for keeping the networks running (albeit not operating that efficiently). They already have negative reputations in the minds of many people due to the exorbitant premium costs and the limitations on where they can get health care services. HMOs tightly regulate these areas.
Universal health care would change how they operate; in some cases, there could be job losses and total elimination of some agencies in order to make room for government-operated agencies. The prices would be lowered or defrayed in order to open access to more people. The networks that have hindered many people from seeking other doctors or specialists could be lifted so you could go wherever you want to receive care. The current methods used by HMOs could spell their elimination if robust universal healthcare legislation is every passed by Congress.
Now, this doesn’t mean all is lost. There are still some benefits to HMOs provided their goals and methods are brought in line with the objectives of universal healthcare concerns. They could provide a crucial element for creating the new infrastructure for healthcare services. Yet, most of us realize these are speculations only since the road to approving any universal healthcare legislation is a long one.
Who know what the future holds? Any good plan would factor in HMOs to the overall strategy for making universal healthcare work. Different ideas abound. Some of these target HMOs and seek to banish them entirely, but this does not have to be case. Yes, HMOs are terrified of universal healthcare legislation, but they don’t have to be.
M.E. Ward blogs about how to choose a masters of health administration.