Any Willing Provider: An Unacceptable Risk for a Marginal Gain

Abstract

It is no secret that many Americans are less than happy with their health care coverage – either due to a total lack of coverage or simply a lack of choice and flexibility within their current plan. The latter objection isoften a feature of the coverage afforded by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), also commonly known as Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). These plans usually restrict a patient’s choice of doctorsin exchange for lower monthly premiums. In response to frustrated patients and citizens, legislation titled Any Willing Provider has been introduced in several states, which aims to curb the ability of an HMO tocontrol patient access to the healthcare market. While the goals of this type of legislation seem noble and logical on their face – allowing patients to have their choice of doctors and not allowing companies to restrictaccess to the market – the unintended consequences of these laws could easily outweigh their benefits. By undermining an HMO’s cost-saving techniques, America runs the risk of increasing the number of uninsuredcitizens. This report will outline the issues and debates surrounding the MCO/HMO industry in America as well as the Any Willing Provider movement. It will then argue that this kind of legislation, whiledesirable on its surface, demonstrates a potential for negative consequences, which may be too much of a risk to our healthcare system.