Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA) Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide to Exam Success!

The Independent Practice Association (IPA) is a type of managed care plan that provides flexibility for physicians to maintain their own private practices while also serving capitated managed care patients. In an IPA model, physicians are often part of a network that has contracts with insurance providers to deliver care to members at predetermined rates, or capitation. This structure allows them to operate with autonomy, treating both patients who are part of managed care plans and those who pay privately.

The flexibility inherent in the IPA model allows healthcare providers to serve a varied patient population without being confined to the restrictions that may come with other managed care structures. This is particularly beneficial in ensuring that practices can sustain a diverse revenue stream while providing care tailored to the needs of different patient groups. By maintaining their own offices, physicians can deliver personalized care and create stronger patient relationships, a hallmark of independent practices.

In contrast, other types of managed care plans like HMOs, PPOs, and EPOs have different operational structures and restrictions that may not permit the same level of independence or dual service pathways.