National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

Health Plan Report Card (for Managed Care Organizations)

Various types of Managed Care Organizations (MCO):

1. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
   An HMO () is a type of managed care health plan that provides health care coverage to its members through a specific network of primary care doctors who coordinate care and control access to physician specialists. Members may have to pay a co-payment when covered through an HMO.
   
   
2. Point of Service (POS)
   A POS plan is a managed care plan that gives its members the choice of receiving care from a doctor within its physician network and paying a small co-payment or receiving care from a doctor outside its network and paying a greater percentage of the cost of care.
   
3. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
   A PPO is a type of plan that encourages its members to seek care from certain physicians, hospitals and other providers that are willing to provide medical services at a reduced cost. Members have the option of seeking care outside of this reduced cost provider network, but they must pay a greater proportion of the cost of care.

Source: NCQA. (2008). Glossary
http://reportcard.ncqa.org/plan/external/Resources.aspx?Tab=Glossary#HMO