What was the primary goal of the HMO Act of 1973?

The primary goal of the HMO Act of 1973 was indeed to change the system of health care delivery. This legislation was significant because it aimed to establish and promote Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) as a model for providing healthcare services. By incentivizing the development of HMOs, the Act sought to ensure that healthcare was not only accessible and affordable but also delivered in a more organized and efficient manner.

HMO structures emphasize prevention, comprehensive services, and coordinated care, which were revolutionary compared to the more traditional fee-for-service models that were prevalent at the time. The HMO Act ultimately intended to create a more managed approach to health care delivery, aimed at improving health outcomes while controlling costs.

The other options, while related to the broader context of health care, do not capture the core aim of the HMO Act. Improving hospital infrastructure involves physical and technological upgrades that were not the direct focus of this legislation. Promoting individual healthcare plans pertains more to personal insurance choices, which is different from the community-based, preventive care focus of HMOs. Nationalizing health insurance pertains to the idea of government ownership and control of health insurance programs, which is a separate and more radical concept compared to the cooperative approach initiated by the HMO Act