Physician organizations

Abstract

The battle between physicians and managed care is over, and managed care has won. Today, three fourths of US physicians contract directly with managed care organizations, and three quarters of all employees with healthcare benefits are covered through managed care plans.¹ Even the remaining indemnity health insurance policies that made fee-for-service medical practice possible are remarkably similar to managed care plans. Provisions regarding second opinions, required authorizations, and limitation on procedures and referrals in today's indemnity policies are in reality just another version of managed care.