Nancy J. Perry

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are a type of health care provider company. Many people have criticized HMOs for denying their patients comprehensive—or even adequate—medical treatment in order to control costs. In the following viewpoint, Nancy J. Perry, a senior editor for Money magazine, contends that HMOs are economically and medically efficient. While she acknowledges that some patients have had unpleasant experiences dealing with HMOs, she maintains that as a general rule the organizations provide good care at reasonable prices.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What percentage of the insured population belonged to HMOs as of the end of 1992, according to Perry?
2. What does the author claim HMOs do to encourage membership?
3. How are doctors paid by HMOs, according to Perry? How does this benefit the patient, in her opinion...