Patients' Rights Glossary
Managed care. HMO. Drug formulary. Grievance. What does it all mean?
The following is a list of some words and phrases commonly used in the patients' rights debate:
Refers to techniques used by health insurers to manage both the cost and quality of medical treatments for consumers.
A health plan that arranges or provides health care services to consumers in exchange for a fixed, prepaid monthly premium. HMOs usually use designated doctors or hospitals, and assume the costs of medical treatments that are higher than the consumers' basic fees and co-payments.
HMOs whose patients may choose to see outside doctors under certain circumstances, and for higher fees.
HMOs offer patients incentives like lower costs for certain doctors. But patients are allowed to seek outside doctors.
A doctor, hospital, or other health care professional or facility such as home health nurse or dialysis center.
The doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers under contract with a health plan. They are often called "in-network" or "participating" providers.
Doctors who provide general health care services. They usually include family practitioners, general practitioners, pediatricians, and internists. Some HMOs require patients to seek approval from these physicians before going to a specialist.
A list of prescription medicines that are preferred for use by the health plan. Closed formulary limits coverage to those drugs in the plan's formulary. Open formulary allows coverage for medicines, but patients might have to pay extra for them.
A health plan's advance approval for a patient to seek specific medical treatments.
The process a health plan uses to examine treatments to make sure they are medically necessary and appropriate.
Plans conduct this review before they approve or deny coverage.
Plans conduct this review during the course of treatment.
Plans conduct this review after treatment is completed.
A formal decision, made through a plan's internal review process, to deny reimbursement for a requested service.
A request by a patient for a health plan to reverse its decision to deny coverage for a medical treatment or other service.
A written complaint from a patient about an insurer's decisions, policies, or actions. Grievances generally address the availability, delivery, or quality of health care services; payment of claims or reimbursement for services.
©MMI Viacom Internet Services Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report