Which model emphasizes a network of contracted physicians who may operate in multiple office locations rather than in a single facility?

Which model emphasizes a network of contracted physicians who may operate in multiple office locations rather than in a single facility?

• A. Staff Model
• B. Group Model
• C. Independent Practice Association
• D. Network Model

Answer: (D)

A network of physicians who are not employed by a single organization and who practice in their own offices across multiple locations is best described by the Independent Practice Association. In this setup, doctors maintain independent private practices and contract with a plan or HMO through an IPA to provide services to members. This preserves their independence and allows care to be delivered from several office locations rather than from one facility owned by the plan. This differs from a staff model, where physicians are employees working in HMO-owned facilities, and from a group model, where a single multispecialty group practice contracts with the plan and often operates out of its own facilities. A network model involves contracting with multiple physician groups to form a broader network, but the hallmark of the IPA is the explicit independence of physicians who practice in multiple locations.

A network of physicians who are not employed by a single organization and who practice in their own offices across multiple locations is best described by the Independent Practice Association. In this setup, doctors maintain independent private practices and contract with a plan or HMO through an IPA to provide services to members. This preserves their independence and allows care to be delivered from several office locations rather than from one facility owned by the plan.

This differs from a staff model, where physicians are employees working in HMO-owned facilities, and from a group model, where a single multispecialty group practice contracts with the plan and often operates out of its own facilities. A network model involves contracting with multiple physician groups to form a broader network, but the hallmark of the IPA is the explicit independence of physicians who practice in multiple locations.