group model health maintenance organization

group mod·el health main·te·nance or·gan·i·za·tion

(HMO) (grūp mod'ĕl helth mān'tĕ-năns ōr'gă-nī-zā'shŭn) An HMO that contracts with a single medical practice to be the sole source of care for its subscribers; two types of practice exist under this model: the "captive" group, which is formed by an HMO to serve its subscribers, and the "independent" group, a previously independent practice that subsequently contracts with the HMO.