Final answer:
Contract practice in healthcare uses inducements like guaranteed salary, flexible working hours, healthcare benefits, and professional development opportunities to attract physicians. These benefits align with the structure of HMOs, which pay a fixed amount per enrolled person to encourage efficient and patient-focused care. Option 1) Guaranteed salary is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contract practice in the healthcare industry uses various inducements to attract physicians to organizations like Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). These measures aim to reduce the moral hazard by aligning the incentives of healthcare providers with the goals of cost control and high-quality patient care. With the transition from fee-for-service models to managed care, providers, namely physicians, are now met with a series of benefits designed to attract and retain their services.
Examples of inducements include:
• Guaranteed salary to provide financial stability and predictability.
• Flexible working hours to allow for work-life balance and to make the position more appealing.
• Healthcare benefits which ensure that physicians and their families are covered, adding an extra layer of personal assurance.
• Professional development opportunities to facilitate continuous learning and career advancement.
Under the HMO model, a physician receives a fixed amount per person enrolled, with potential additional payments for treating specific health conditions, incentivizing efficiency while maintaining a focus on patient health outcomes. This structure aims to discourage unnecessary care that a fee-for-service model might encourage, while providing a stable and appealing work environment for healthcare professionals.