This study examines the efficiency of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) based on a sample of 249 HMOs operating in the United States in 1995. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to calculate the level of technical efficiency for each HMO included in the sample. Further descriptive analyses were conducted examining various structural and operational characteristics of HMOs and their impact on efficiency. Federal qualification status, Medicare programme participation, combined Medicare and Medicaid programmes participation, chain affiliation and size were found to be significant influences on HMO efficiency.
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