Health maintenance organizations--California--Orange County

In Orange County, California an innovative, pre-paid, capitation-
type of health care program for welfare patients is
being developed. This thesis investigates potential participation
of conservatively oriented physicians in such a program.
A direct mail questionnaire to the total physician membership
of the Orange County Medical Association was utilized to determine
patterns of medical practice in orange county, involvement
of physicians in current welfare programs, and criteria acceptable
to physicians that would effectively implement a program
providing quality medical services readily accessible to welfare patients. Secondary research concentrated on current
concepts and actual practice in the provision, the cost,
and the quality of health care provided welfare patients.
Data gathered gives a degree of insight to the medical
leadership in Orange County whether an innovative pre-paid
health care program will attract sufficient physician
participation to justify the signing of a formal contract
with the State of California.