Preferred Provider Organization Research Paper

The types of managed care are differentiated by definition, operation, structure, and information needs. `HMOs were the most common type of MCO until commercial insurance companies developed PPOs to compete with HMOs' (Douglas, 2003, p.331). `HMOs are business entities that either arrange for or provide health services to an enrolled population after prepayment of a fixed sum of money, called a premium' (Peden, 1998, p.78). There are three characteristics that an HMO must have. The first is a health care financing and delivery system that provides services for members in a particular geographic area. Second, is ensured access to a complete range of health care services, health maintenance, treatment, and routine checkups. Last, health care must be obtained from voluntary personnel that participate in the HMO. The five HMO models related to the participating physicians are the Staff

Another type of managed care program that was introduced is the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). A PPO is comprised of a group of physicians, hospitals and other medical service providers who contract with employers, insurance companies or other plan sponsors. The PPO offers discounted pricing to these contracted organizations due to the high volume of business received. PPO’s typically have up-front cost sharing in the form of deductibles and/or co-insurance, which vary depending upon the actual plan chosen.

There are various differences between managed care plans. With an HMO, the member would receive most or all healthcare from a provider within the network. Also, members are required to choose a PCP and would need a referral to see a specialist or another doctor. PPOs have contracts with a network of providers which they deem “preferred”. Furthermore, PCPs are not required by a PPO and members do not need a referral to see other providers in the network. The POS plan is a combination of both the HMO and PPO plans. With a POS plan, the member must pick a PCP and is allowed to see a provider that is not in the

Instead, customers are encouraged to use providers within the network through offering them reduced rates for service. When a customer uses a provider that participates with the program, they pay less in the form of out of pocket copayments. These discounts are available because the health care providers within the network have contracts with the PPO stating the agreed upon discounted rates the providers will be paid when they provide services for members of that particular PPO (Gapenski, 2013).

Managed care programs remove the majority of the consumer-driven or free market provider selection and health care choices by establishing networks with preapproved providers. These programs include health management organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), point-of-service (POS) options and provider- sponsored organizations (PSOS), of which are all network based (Gage, 1998). Patients who utilize a managed care program find there is little or no cost for receiving care within the network, however, require referrals to see a specialist, high cost if a physician is outside of the network, requirements of second opinions for costly procedures/ diagnosis, and pre-defined hospital stay limits. On the other hand, physicians supporting managed care programs contract and accept various risks, including insurability, utilization rate, price, reimbursement rates and legal risk (Brown & Reiss, 2000) for the

With a POS plan, members can use doctors who are within the network or those who are not in order to receive their care. If member do choose doctors outside their networks they will have to pay more to have those services performed. With the POS plan members must have a primary care physician. With a PPO plan members have more options over who they can see. Members do not need a primary care physician with this type of plan (What is an HMO? 2009).

The three major types of health insurance available in the US are "Health Maintenance Organizations--HMOs, Point of Service plans--POS, Preferred Provider Organizations --PPOs." (Health Insurance Coverage, 2010) All the three coverage options come under managed care plans wherein the health insurers collaborate with healthcare providers to build networks. HMOs offer the most economical health insurance coverage, however their plans are not always flexible. As they come under HMO purview the insured has to pay monthly premium while the co-payments are relatively low for hospital and subsequent office visits. When an insured belongs to an HMO, there is a restriction to visit doctors within his network only and any failure will entail footing the bill by the insured himself. Prior to visiting Specialist Doctors, HMOs often need the insured to get referrals. Even visiting the Emergency Room needs approval if one belongs to an HMO. (Health Insurance Coverage, 2010)

Preferred Provider Organization: With a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), members pay less for care when they use in-network providers — doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies that are part of the PPO network. The plan also provides coverage when members go to out-of-network providers, but they will pay more. This plan doesn 't require referrals.

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) consist of a network of hospitals, healthcare facilities, physicians and labs that patient may choose from for services and the services will be covered under the insurance policy. Managed care organizations (MCOs) began to proliferate during the 1980s. A Managed Care Organization (MCO) is part of a Family

Private insurance companies negotiate prices with hospitals and health care providers to confirm what will be paid by the insurer. These negotiations can be taxing as both entities fight for what is most profitable for them. The providers involved with the negotiations are “in network providers” and all others fall into the out of network realm and run the risk of not being reimbursed or being paid a certain amount leaving it up to the consumer to pick up the remaining balance. Managed care provides a system by which the priority of health care is to reduce costs while ensuring that the delivery of quality health care is provided to consumers. The different types of managed care organizations include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and both systems follow different payment methods. HMO’s use capitation or fixed annual payments for each person its exclusive list of providers sees no matter what type of care or how much care is provided and PPO’s, like traditional insurance companies, negotiate rates of payment with providers and members enjoy lower out of pocket costs such as deductibles and copays. With PPO’s, members could choose out of network providers and would pay the difference between the reimbursement rate of the plan and the changes of the

The United States being referred for specialties depends on the insurance plan (Mossialos, Wenzel, Osborn, Sarnak, 2016, pp. 171-177). Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans give access to certain healthcare organizations and physician within their network that have agreed to lower rates for their services. The individual must agree to these services to have services covered. All services will be coordinated by the primary care physician PCP. Medicaid coverage is also based on these principles. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan have higher premiums but give more flexibility. PPO allows the individual to see any physician they choose but cost is less if the individual stays within the network. PPO does not require that the individual have a PCP. No referrals for specialist are needed.

The managed care plan coordinates the financing and delivery of health care services of its members in order to provide the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost. These providers form the plan network. The network have rules that determine the amount of coverage your plan will pay. Restrictive plan cost less than flexible ones. HMOs pay provider within their network. Most patient's care is provided y a practitioner. PPOs pay provider within their network, but also pay provider outside their network. POS plans allow the insured to choose between an HMO or a PPO each time care is required (MediLexicon International Ltd, 2015).

HMOS and PPOS organizations are a type of managed care that are designed to reduce the cost of health care down. In HMOS organization encourages healthy lifestyles and focuses on more wellness care of its member by offering preventive care, tests and doing physicals to prevent diseases early before its escalators which can cut costs down tremendously “prevention of a disease early detection and treatment save health care prices in the long run when the path of a disease is broken before it turns into complex” (Shi, Singh, 2013, P, 222). HMOS uses Gatekeepers to prevent patients receiving unnecessary treatments and offer health education courses for its members and discounted health club. Preferred Provider Organization lower costs down by

There are currently have two main insurance options available for consumers, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Both health insurance plans are great, but we will be focusing on the plan with lower costs in general which is Health Maintenance Insurance, or HMO. HMO is an organized system of health care that offers medical services to its members on a prepaid foundation. It combines health insurance and delivery functions in an effort to keep low costs and maximize the quality care provided. There are several types of HMOs that are available: staff model, group model, network model and individual practice association, or IPA. For the staff model, physicians are salaried and have offices in HMO

HMO refer to as Health Maintenance Organization. The organization has their specific network of hospital doctors and other healthcare providers who have agreed to accept payment at a definite level for any services they provide. The plan permit HMO to retain costs in check for its members. The organization (HMO) is one of the most popular forms of managed care networks. It is important to know that HMO enrolled 89 million according to American Association of Health plans. One advantage