independent practice association


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Related to independent practice association: Individual practice association

independent practice association (IPA),

an association of independent physicians or small groups of physicians formed for the purpose of contracting with one or more managed health care organizations. Member physicians provide medical services for HMO patients in their own offices and are allowed to maintain private practices.
See also: managed care, health maintenance organization.

independent practice association

n. Abbr. IPA
An independent group of physicians and other health-care providers that are under contract to provide services to members of different HMOs, as well as other insurance plans, usually at a fixed fee per patient.

independent practice association

Managed care A group of providers, typically physicians, who organize into a corporation that contracts with HMOs; in IPAs, physicians retain their traditional practice autonomy while integrating themselves into self-directed groups that solve group problems and exert political influence. See HMO, Managed care, Risk pool. Cf Group model, Network model, Staff model.

in·de·pen·dent prac·tice as·so·ci·ation

(in'dĕ-pen'dĕnt prak'tis ă-sō'sē-ā'shŭn)
An association of independent physicians or small groups of physicians formed for the purpose of contracting with one or more managed health care organizations. Member physicians provide medical services for patients enrolled in those organizations in their own offices but are also allowed to maintain private practices.
See also: managed care, health maintenance organization
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References in periodicals archive ?
Since the early 1980s, MCOs have grown rapidly, with the greatest enrollment of patients occurring not in relatively well-studied group or staff model HMOs, but in newer types of MCOs: independent practice associations, preferred provider organizations, exclusive provider organizations, and point-of-service plans.
Physician communication in managed care organizations: opinions of primary care physicians
To determine the prevalence of office reminder and scheduling systems and education and counseling services for screening mammography, we conducted a telephone survey of a group of primary care practices affiliated with an independent practice association (IPA) model HMO and of the mammography centers to which the practices refer their patients.
Office systems for promoting screening mammography: a survey of primary care practices
(EHS), managed by healthcare organisation SynerMed, has agreed to acquire independent practice association MultiCultural Medical Group, Inc., adding 370 providers, the company said.
EHS Medical Group Adds 370 Providers with Acquisition of MultiCultural Medical Group
Carol Greenlee, vice chair of the ACP's Council of Subspecialty Societies and an endocrinologist in Grand Junction, Colo., also said that she had been using the toolkit with physicians who were in her independent practice association (IPA).
ACP toolkit aims to improve referrals, coordination
MemorialCare Health System is a not-for profit, integrated delivery system that includes five top hospitals - Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial, and Saddleback Memorial; three medical groups - MemorialCare Medical Group, Memorial Prompt Care, and Specialty Physicians of Long Beach; an Independent Practice Association (IPA) Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare HealthExpress retail clinics; and numerous outpatient health centers throughout the Southland.
Saddleback Memorial Foundation Honors Heritage Society Members
Some of his physician colleagues from the city's largest independent practice association had themselves been eyeing the purchase possibility, however.
No lollygagging for Dr. Lally
High Desert Medical Group is an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of 50 primary care and specialty physicians who serve 45,000 patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans.
Saving Big on Medical Supplies
The fifth HMO, the Independent Practice Association (IPA), was established in 1984 to compete for patients with other HMOs.
Physician satisfaction in a managed care environment
The EDI installation (EZ-CAP's Provider Communications Link, or PCL) allows nurses at the primary care physician's offices in our Independent Practice Association (IPA) to go directly on-line to make the request.
Referrals in minutes rather than days
MemorialCare Health System is a not-for profit, integrated delivery system that includes six top hospitals - Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial in Fountain Valley, and Saddleback Memorial in Laguna Hills and San Clemente; a medical group - MemorialCare Medical Group; an Independent Practice Association (IPA) - Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare HealthExpress retail clinics; ambulatory surgery centers and numerous outpatient health centers throughout the Southland.
Saddleback Memorial - San Clemente Food Drive and Free Drive-Thru Flu Shots Friday, October 18
Manawatu Independent Practice Association (MIPA) nurse Jenny Ayling, who established Palmerston North's Youth Health Service, received the innovation award in primary health.
DHB honours Manawatu nurses
In fact, for large-scale projects, such as the formation of an independent practice association, it's good to have both.
Practice Management Consultant or Attorney?

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