managed care organization

managed care organization (MCO),

an organization that combines the functions of health insurance, delivery of care, and administration. Examples include the independent practice association, third-party administrator, management service organization, and physician-hospital organization.

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managed care organization

Health insurance A health care delivery system consisting of affiliated and/or owned hospitals, physicians and others which provide a wide range of coordinated health services; an umbrella term for health plans that provide health care in return for a predetermined monthly fee and coordinate care through a defined network of physicians and hospitals Examples HMO, POS. See HMO, Point of service plan, PPOs.