Preferred provider organization

In health insurance in the United States, a preferred provider organization (or PPO, sometimes referred to as a participating provider organization or preferred provider option) is a managed care organization of medical doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who have agreed with an insurer or a third-party administrator to provide health care at reduced rates to the insurer's or administrator's clients.

Overview

A preferred provider organization^[1] is a subscription-based medical care arrangement. A membership allows a substantial discount below the regularly charged rates of the designated professionals partnered with the organization. Preferred provider organizations themselves earn money by charging an access fee to the insurance company for the use of their network (unlike the usual insurance with premiums and corresponding payments paid either in full or partially by the insurance provider to the medical doctor). They negotiate with providers to set fee schedules, and handle disputes between insurers and providers. PPOs can also contract with one another to strengthen their position in certain geographic areas without forming new relationships directly with providers. This will be mutually beneficial in theory, as be billed at a reduced rate when its insureds utilize the services of the "preferred" provider and the provider will see an increase in its business as almost all and or insureds in the organization will use only providers who are members. PPOs have gained popularity because, although they tend to have slightly higher premiums than HMOs and other more restrictive plans, they offer patients more flexibility overall.^[2]

PPO

Other features of a preferred provider organization generally include utilization review, where representatives of the insurer or administrator review the records of treatments provided to verify that they are appropriate for the condition being treated rather being largely or solely being performed to increase the amount of people due. Another near-universal feature is a pre-certification requirement, in which scheduled (non-emergency) hospital admissions—and, in some instances, outpatient surgery—must have the prior approval of the insurer and must often undergo "utilization review" in advance.

Vs. exclusive provider organization (EPO)

A PPO is a healthcare benefit arrangement that is similar to the EPO in structure, administration, and operation. Unlike EPO members, however, PPO members are reimbursed for using medical care providers outside of their network of designated doctors and hospitals. However, when they use out-of-network providers PPO members are reimbursed at a reduced rate that may include higher deductibles and co-payments, lower reimbursement percentages, or a combination of these financial penalties. EPO members, on the other hand, receive no reimbursement or benefit if they visit medical care providers outside of their designated network of doctors and hospitals. (Some, but not all, EPOs do allow partial reimbursement outside of the network in emergency cases.)

See also

• Dental plan
• Exclusive provider organization
• Health insurance
• Health maintenance organization
• Independent practice association
• Managed care
• Point of service plan
• Silent PPO
• Single-payer health care

References

External links

• healthinsurance.about.com: HMOs vs. PPOs – What Are the Differences Between HMOs and PPOs? (2010)
• Healthcare Network Information