My topic of discussion is going to deal with Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO). My issue is Should patients in the U.S. choose an HMO as their health care provider? Very controversial subject right now and also will continue to be in the future.
             Although a majority of Americans believe the health system will take care of them if they are injured or ill, six in ten are unhappy with the system, more than half say fundamental charges are needed (Anonymous,2 1999). People are very unhappy with the care they are receiving. According to the critics polled quality is declining and the doctor patient relationship isn't what it used to be. While life expectancy is on the rise, studies show that half or more of the heart-attack patients don't receive the beta blockers needed to reduce their risk of another attack(Watson 1999). A numerous number of cancer patients are not receiving care for their condition. And each year hospital patients die from drug reactions, wrong dosages, and wrong mixes of drugs.
             "Only one thing matters to the HMO, and that is money" (Raniolo 1999). Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is more interested in collecting its money rather than concerning themselves with health care also how much patients are paying out of pocket. People are having to pay higher premiums for supplemental care. Also the cost of prescription drugs are at a higher cost than usual. HMO's have a lack of focus or preventative medicine, they stash their money instead of furthering research. "If consumer's realized that the product their buying is smoke and mirrors with a dash of snake oil, the managed care companies would be out of business" (Anonymous,3 1999).
             When joining a HMO, a patient must select a primary care physician from the network (Lochridge 1999:27). This limits a patient to one doctor, and can only go to specialists with a referral from your primary physician. Even if g...