A form of group practice by physicians and supporting personnel to provide comprehensive health services to an enrolled group of subscribers who pay a fixed premium to belong. Emphasis is on maintaining the health of the enrollees as well as treating their illnesses. HMOs must include psychiatric benefits to receive federal support.
An organizational health plan of total health care.
A health care providing organization which ordinarily has a closed group (“panel”) of physicians (and sometimes other health care professionals), along with either its own hospital or allocated beds in one or more hospitals. Individuals (usually families) “join” an HMO, which agrees to provide “all” the medical and hospital care they need, for a fixed, predetermined fee. Actually, each subscriber is under a contract stipulating the limits of the service (not “all” the care needed). Such a contract is called a risk contract and the HMO is therefore called a “risk contractor.”
A prepaid health care program of group practice that provides comprehensive medical care, especially preventive care, while aiming to control health care expenditures.
A managed care plan in which patients must use a doctor who contracts with the insurance company.
A group of physicians and other health-care workers that provides complete medical services for a set monthly fee.