Exclusive Provider Organization

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO),

a type of managed health care organization in which no coverage is typically provided for services received outside the EPO. However, some EPOs incorporate the primary care physician gatekeeper concept along with prospective approval of referrals to specialists of providers outside the EPO.

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exclusive provider organization (EPO),

n a dental benefits plan that provides benefits only if care is rendered by institutional and professional providers with whom the plan contracts (with some exceptions for emergency and out-of-area services).

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exclusive provider organization

Managed care A managed care organization similar to a PPO–preferred provider organization in purpose and organization, which allows a Pt to go outside the network for care, but must pay the full cost of the services received; it is similar to an HMO in that primary care physicians act as gatekeepers to a network of other providers, an authorization system, etc. See Gatekeeper, HMO, Managed care organization, PPO.