Health Plans
When HMOs play a greater role in policymaking, there is greater regulation of managed care, a study in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law found.
Researchers found that when more HMOs have representation in the process of regulating managed care, they tend to be more agreeable to policies deemed less damaging to their businesses. As a result, lawmakers are more willing to compromise to maintain positive relations.
The authors concluded that the wave of reforms in managed care can be attributed to either political pandering to public opinion or physician groups, or to democratic responsiveness (Gray et al., Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, June 2007).