Open panel health plans can contract with individual providers or with various provider groups when...

One limitation of contracting with multispecialty groups is that a health plan obtains only specialty consultants, but not PCPs.

One benefit to a health plan in contracting with an integrated delivery system (IDS) is the ability to have a network in rapid order and to enter into a new market or one that is already competitive.

A health plan that contracts with an individual practice association (IPA) has a greater ability to select and deselect individual physicians than when contracting directly with the providers.

A health plan that contracts with an IDS is able to eliminate the antitrust risk that exists when contracting with an IPA.