  
	
  
Do HMOs Make a Difference?
Use of Health Services
Winter 1999/2000 
Inquiry, vol.36, no.4 (Winter 1999/2000): 400-410 
 Ha T. Tu, Peter  Kemper, Holly L. Wong 
    
Abstract:
 his study analyzes the effects of health maintenance organizations
    (HMOs) on the use of health services by the privately insured, nonelderly population.
    After controlling for population and location differences, HMOs increase physician visits,
    nonphysician practitioner visits, and total ambulatory visits by modest but significant
    margins, while shifting the mix of physician care from specialists to primary care
    physicians. HMOs also increase use of two preventive services: mammography screening and
    flu shots. Contrary to expectation, however, the study finds no significant differences
    between HMO and non-HMO enrollees in the use of hospital, surgery, and emergency room
    services. 
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