Released: January 17, 2006

Help Desk FAQ

What are the potential problems of HMOs?

The rapid growth of managed care, while controlling health care costs, has been relatively unchecked by consumer advocates and public policy makers. Problems have arisen in several areas, including emergency room treatment, the care of those with chronic illnesses and those in need of experimental treatments that could save their lives. In the view of many critics, HMOs make health care decisions based on cost, not on an appropriate standard of care and an individual’s particular needs.