Independent Practice Association (IPA), a U.S. type of physician alliance in which the physicians own the practice, as opposed to physicians employed by an entity such as a health maintenance organization. Physicians in the IPA are legally organized as a corporation, partnership, professional corporation, or foundation to contract as a group to provide services. Economic risk is shared, but overhead is not. The IPA may contract with a health maintenance organization (HMO) to service enrollees but will usually still see non-HMO clients. See also health maintenance organization.
