independent practice association health maintenance organization

in·de·pen·dent prac·tice as·so·ci·a·tion health maintenance organization

(in'dĕ-pen'dĕnt prak'tis ă-sō'sē-ā'shŭn helth mān'tĕ-nănts ōr'gan-ī-zā'shŭn) An arrangement by which physician providers are paid by the health maintenance organization on a fee-for-service basis for each patient seen, under terms negotiated with the health maintenance organization.