The health maintenance organization delivery system. A national study of attitudes of HMO project directors on HMO issues.

A national survey of health maintenance organization project directors' attitudes on HMO delivery issues was conducted to gather data about HMO planning development and delivery areas. Questionnaire results revealed characteristics of the HMO project director, sponsoring institution, and developmental stage. Seven HMO issues (Prepayment Mechanism, Quality of Care, Degree of Federal Participation) Public and Private Funding, Physicians' Attitudes toward HMO, and Consumer Recruitment) were identified to measure the attitudes of directors. As a whole, responses were in the positive range. Scale 1 (Prepayment Mechanism) and Scale 2 (Quality of Care) received the lowest mean scores and were in the moderate agreement range. Scale 3 (Degree of Federal Regulation) and Scale 5 (Public and Private Funding) had the highest mean scores and fell between slight agreement and disagreement. Further research has been noted in various administrative features and issue areas of HMO. Most crucial is the outcome of HMO legislation which has a bearing on the policy and program of the HMO delivery system. On the basis of what appears to be a representative sample of directors of DHEW-funded HMO Planning and Development Projects, the study has assessed attitudes on important issues relevant to HMOs and determined areas of greatest agreement and disagreement.