Managed care: implications for underrepresented physicians.

The advent of health care reform has brought uncertainty to the lives of underrepresented physicians and their patients. Managed care promises increased numbers of primary care physicians and fewer specialists; increased numbers of primary care physicians and fewer specialists; increased numbers of group practices and health maintenance organizations (HMOs); and combinations of health care plans and insurance plans. Solo practice fee-for-service physicians will find it more difficult to compete. Many physicians will retire or change careers; some will be left out of managed care plans altogether. To cope, underrepresented physicians must encourage the enrollment of more minorities in medical schools and residency training programs. They must become involved in the management and administration of managed care programs. They must become involved in politics. Finally, they must combine forces to become competitive in the changing health care market.