Physicians and prepaid group practices

Abstract

Prepaid group practices (PGPs) are complex organizations that directly combine prepayment for health care with a comprehensive health care delivery system. PGPs' ability to manage their physician staffing efficiently must be placed in context with the cost and quality of their care. It seems unlikely that PGPs or their use of staff will proliferate. With increased integration of care through disease management programs and use of clinical information technology, it should be possible for the United States as a whole to come closer to achieving the care delivery goals that PGPs have set in the past.