How is a "Closed Panel" defined in relation to health insurance providers?

A "Closed Panel" in the context of health insurance providers refers specifically to a network of healthcare providers who agree to serve only members of a specific health organization or insurance plan. This arrangement means that the providers are contracted to provide services to patients who are part of the health plan, ensuring that care is coordinated and that costs are contained within the network.

This model typically results in lower costs for the health plan, as closed panels often require providers to maintain certain guidelines and fees that align with the plan's structure. Members benefit from this closed system through more streamlined access to care, as the health plan may cover a broader range of services within its own network.

The other options suggest more open access for providers. For example, the suggestions that providers can see any patient regardless of membership, or that they can treat both members and non-members, describe characteristics of open panel systems. In those models, healthcare providers are not restricted exclusively to a specific group of members, which does not align with the definition of a "Closed Panel."