What act required most employers with more than 25 employees to offer HMO coverage if local plans were available?

The Health Maintenance Organization Assistance Act of 1973 established critical guidelines for the development and regulation of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). One significant provision of this act was the requirement for employers with more than 25 employees to provide HMO coverage if such plans were available in the local area. This requirement was a step towards expanding healthcare access and promoting the use of HMOs, which aimed to control healthcare costs while maintaining quality care through a network of providers.

The act facilitated the growth of HMOs during a period when rising healthcare costs were becoming a pressing issue. By mandating employer participation, it helped reinforce the viability of HMOs as a sustainable model in the American healthcare system. Other options mentioned relate to different healthcare reforms or initiatives but do not specifically include this employer mandate regarding HMO coverage in the same way that this act does.