Article Abstract:
Central bureaucracy, competition from health maintenance organizations and loss of patients and government subsidies are placing the future of America's public health care system in jeopardy. Metropolitan public health systems, such as New York and Los Angeles, are at increased risk due to inconsistencies in political leadership and the high costs of specialty teaching programs associated with larger hospitals. Analysts suggest letting private hospitals operate public hospitals with local government maintaining partial control. Also, random case reviews by independent healthcare workers could improve the quality and efficiency of the public health care system.
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Article Abstract:
Senior participation in Medicare health maintenance organizations is set to continue growing dramatically through the mid-2000s. The number of seniors enrolled in such plans has increased more than twofold since 1992, and is forecasted to grow to comprise anywhere from 34% to 50% of the total senior population by 2007. HMOs and physicians have been forced to opt into the Medicare sector, however financially risky, because of increasing competition.
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Article Abstract:
Parkland hospital in Dallas, TX, created a point-of-service plan called Employee Physician Office and successfully reduced its health benefit costs. The alternative insurance coverage program offers employees health maintenance organization care at the relatively low price of $82/month per family. Parkland has also found that the use of employees to give health care other employees boosts program awareness and quality.
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