1.   And some have prepared for the inevitable by joining a physician network aligned with one of the HMOs.

2.   Even the shares of physician networks, which would seem to be in a better position since their mission is to negotiate aggressively with HMOs, have been battered.

3.   Emphesys, which has two health maintenance organizations, offers most customers various kinds of physician networks.

4.   Employers are so worried about the Massachusetts situation that, for the first time, many are considering national health plans that have developed local physician networks.

5.   Executives at Partners, the largest hospital and physician network in the state, said they need to review the details of the plan before making a decision.

6.   It envisions that seniors will be lured to a host of managed care plans, hospital physician networks and medical savings accounts.

7.   It is the latest consolidation in the fast-growing business of providing physician networks to health plans.

8.   It would encourage seniors to join group health plans, including health maintenance organizations, physician networks and medical savings accounts.

9.   Many plans have already shifted patients to physicians working for other companies, or have contracted with the same doctors through different physician networks.

10.   Medpartners managed several independent physician association networks, known as IPAs, while Phycor had none.