Do HMOs make a difference? Use of health services.

This 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...