What is a healthcare provider network?

A healthcare provider network (also known as a “network” or a “network of providers”) is a group of healthcare providers who have agreed to provide services to patients under the same health insurance plan. These providers may include primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other health care providers. The network is typically made up of providers who have signed a contract and agreed to accept the same amounts for services rendered. In Washington, health plans are required by law to provide access to a network of healthcare providers that includes all the types of health care services the average patient needs, including hospitals, clinics, specialty care, and services from primary care providers. The health plan must also make sure that the providers are located close enough to the patient that they can be reasonably accessed. By law, health plans must make sure that a reasonable number of health care providers in their network are available to serve patients. This means that patients must have reasonable access to quality care in the network.

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What is a healthcare provider network?

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