- (Topic 2)
The following statements describe two types of HMOs:
The Elm HMO requires its members to select a PCP but allows the members to go to any other provider on its panel without a referral from the PCP.
The Treble HMO does not require its members to select a PCP. Treble allows its members to go to any doctor, healthcare professional, or facility that is on its panel without a referral from a primary care doctor. However, care outside of Treble's network is not reimbursed unless the provider obtains advance approval from the HMO.
Both HMOs use delegation to transfer certain functions to other organizations. Following the guidelines established by the NCQA, Elm delegated its credentialing activities to the Newnan Group, and the agreement between Elm and Newnan lists the responsibilities of both parties under the agreement. Treble delegated utilization management (UM) to an IPA. The IPA then transferred the authority for case management to the Quest Group, an organization that specializes in case management.
Both HMOs also offer pharmacy benefits. Elm calculates its drug costs according to a pricing system that requires establishing a purchasing profile for each pharmacy and basing reimbursement on the profile. Treble and the Manor Pharmaceutical Group have an arrangement that requires the use of a typical maximum allowable cost (MAC) pricing system to calculate generic drug costs under Treble's pharmacy program. The following statements describe generic drugs prescribed for Treble plan members who are covered by Treble's pharmacy benefits:
The MAC list for Drug A specifies a cost of 12 cents per tablet, but Manor pays 14 cents
per tablet for this drug.
The MAC list for Drug B specifies a cost of 7 cents per tablet, but Manor pays 5 cents per tablet for this drug.
From the following answer choices, select the response that best identifies Elm and Treble:
Correct Answer:C
- (Topic 2)
Dr. Sarah Carmichael is one of several network providers who serve on one of the Apex Health Plan’s organizational committees. The committee reviews cases against providers identified through complaints and grievances or through clinical monitoring activities. If needed, the committee formulates, approves, and monitors corrective action plans for providers. Although Apex administrators and other employees also serve on the committee, only participating providers have voting rights. The committee that Dr. Carmichael serves on is a
Correct Answer:B
- (Topic 1)
The Holiday Health Plan is preparing to enter a new market. In order to determine the optimal size of its provider panel in the new market, Holiday is conducting a competitive analysis of provider networks of the market’s existing health plans. Consider whether, in conducting its competitive analysis, Holiday should seek answers to the following questions:
Question 1: What are the cost-containment strategies of the health plans with increasing market shares?
Question 2: What are the premium strategies of the health plans with large market shares?
Question 3: What are the characteristics of health plans that are losing market share?
In its competitive analysis, Holiday should most likely obtain answers to questions
Correct Answer:A
- (Topic 1)
In most health plan pharmacy networks, the cost component of the reimbursement formula is based on the average wholesale price (AWP). One true statement about the AWP for prescription drugs is that
Correct Answer:B
- (Topic 1)
The Avignon Company discontinued its contract with a traditional indemnity insurer and contracted exclusively with the Minaret Health Plan to provide the sole healthcare plan to Avignon’s employees. By agreeing to an exclusive contract with Minaret, Avignon has entered into a type of healthcare contract known as
Correct Answer:C
- (Topic 2)
Reimbursement for prescription drugs and services in a third-party prescription drug plan typically follows one of two approaches: a reimbursement approach or a service approach. One true statement about these approaches is that:
Correct Answer:D