Close followers of the evolution of the Series on Industry and Health Care will recognize in this fourth volume some continuity and some change. The essential concept behind the series remains: here, as before, we are looking to private industry as a potential agent of change in the American health care delivery system. We have made some structural accommodations, however, to comments received from readers in industry and in health services. The original concept of a topical monograph supplemented by a separate hardbound volume of background papers has yielded to the present formula in which...

This fifth issue in the Industry and Health Care series takes a quick turn through unpredictable and only partially charted waters. The series as a whole has set out to explore the role of industry as a potential agent of change in the health care system, and to map the courses that may lead toward control of costs. One that looks possible is the effort now being made to infuse some competition into the health care industry through organized systems of care, known as HMOs. Health maintenance organizations, especially the fee-for-service variety known as IPAs (individual practice...

It is a pleasure to introduce this special volume of the Industry and Health Care Series. It is special for the best of reasons: it is primarily written by industry representatives. Using the Washing- ton Business Group on Health 1978 Annual Meeting as its starting point, this volume captures the feelings, concerns, and experience of many who are leading industry's increasingly significant presence in health policy and economics. While many of the largest companies achieve more sophisticated levels of involvement, the fact remains that most companies of all sizes and especially the smaller...