Exclusive Provider Organizations are similar to PPOs, but beneficiaries are required to utilize EPO-contracted MDs. In addition to information above, you must also recognize the market stage of managed care your community is presently in. HMOs and PPOs force doctors to align. Doctors need to have 40-50 doctors to have impact. Often these groups of doctors do not allow specialists or subspecialists in.
Hospitals try to get involved.
Doctors need to decide whether they think one particular hospital will make it or not. If group of doctors is small, this market stage is the most risky for doctors and should be avoided. Doctors take all the risk in this type of scheme. Entire issue devoted to this subject.