America's physicians unenthusiastic about managed care. (Short Takes).

Nearly seven out of 10 physicians consider themselves "anti-managed care." according to a national study conducted by The MEDSTAT Group and J.D. Power and Associates, which surveyed nearly 30,000 physicians about 150 health plans in 22 markets. While physicians expressed dissatisfaction with managed care in general, HMOs in several markets ranked higher than non-managed care plans. This finding is consistent with the enrollee study of plan performance also conducted by The MEOSTAT Group and 1.0. Power and Associates earlier this year.

Results of this study indicate that physicians want to operate with maximum independence and minimum interference from health plans. More than 75 percent of responding physicians indicated that "having to justify my clinical decisions to others is annoying." In addition, half of the physicians reported that "being profiled on utilization and satisfaction makes me mad." and 42 percent indicated that they feel costs of care should never be considered in making clinical decisions."

James A. Hawkins is Publisher of Healthcare Briefings, a newsletter available in print, on cassette, via fax, and on computer disk. He can be reached at 800/338-5488.