Research in Resource Allocation in a Prepaid Group Practice

Much that has been written about the concept, operation, and performance of HMOs-their use of resources compared with other health service systems-masks the real differences among HMOs themselves. Investigation of autonomous units within a unified HMO program shows a surprising diversity. Analytic formulations drawn from long-term and large-scale research fail to account for variations in staffing, budgeting, rate setting, and expansion when applied to institutional research. Judgment of intangibles remains a key aspect of most major decisions.

Author(s): James A. Hester

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Volume 57, Issue 3 (pages 388–411)
Published in 1979