SATISFACTION WITH CARE - DO MEDICARE HMOS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Differences in satisfaction with care and perceptions of doctor/patien t interactions were compared for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in he alth maintenance organizations (HMOs) and beneficiaries in the fee-for -service (FFS) sector (nonenrollees). After controlling for covariates , beneficiaries expressed satisfaction,with their care, regardless of where they received it. However, HMO enrollees were more likely than n onenrollees were to be very satisfied with the costs of care and with getting care at one location. In contrast, for every components-of-car e measure, nonenrollees were more likely than HMO enrollees were to in dicate high satisfaction with the quality of interaction with their ph ysicians.