PPO Industry Calls for Increased Collaboration Among Non-Traditio...( WASHINGTON May 8 -- Collaboratio...),Health

WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Collaboration among a broad set of industry stakeholders is vital to tackling many of the largest issues facing the health care and preferred provider organization (PPO) industries, according to a report released today by the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO).

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The annual report, Outlook Connect - 2008 Market & Industry Trend Report, found that while competition, consolidation and consumerism are trends that continue to be prominent in the PPO industry, the focus in the next several years needs to be on collaboration. The report is based on interviews with key industry stakeholders as well as data from AAPPO's research partner, Mercer.

"Our report found that stakeholders believe the PPO industry is at a pivotal point where issues demand profound and potentially uncomfortable solutions -- and that these solutions require us to work with nontraditional allies in order to improve the flow of needed information among preferred provider networks, payers and providers in order to improve the health care experience for all consumers," said Karen Greenrose, CEO and president of AAPPO. "I am proud of the work AAPPO has accomplished to forge relationships with groups like the American Medical Association, and believe similar collaborations will only benefit consumers and the health care industry as a whole."

Key findings from the report include:

-- Politics, both at the state and national level, will have a significant

impact on the PPO industry in 2008. The presidential election will

continue to shine a spotlight on national health care policy, while

increased activity in state legislatures to reform health care will

require the industry to be even more po
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