A: The Cleveland Clinic Health System Physician Organization d/b/a Cleveland Clinic Community Physician Partnership (CPP) is the entity that was formed by the merger of the Physician Hospital Organizations (PHOs) of the Fairview Health System, Lakewood Hospital, Marymount Hospital, and the Meridia Health System and that along with the participation of the Cleveland Clinic acts as the managed care contracting agent and messenger for physician contracting within the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

Q: Who are the Cleveland Clinic Hospitals?

A: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, Fairview Hospital, Lakewood Hospital, Lutheran Hospital, Marymount Hospital, Euclid Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Huron Hospital and South Pointe Hospital.

Q: What is the vision of CPP?

A: As an integrated delivery system led by physicians, CPP strives to be positioned to respond to the Payors, effectively manage the quality and cost of medical care and provide value to enrollees, member physicians, hospitals and Payors.

Q: What are the benefits to CPP members?

A: Benefits include:

• An enhanced partnership between Cleveland Clinic Hospitals and the physicians with respect to governance, policy development, medical management and credentialing.
• The ability to capitalize on "economies of scale" regarding information systems, medical management and financial management.
• Marketplace responsiveness to Payors and employers, potentially leading to increased access to payor contracts.
• Creation of value added service programs (e.g., group purchasing, medical malpractice coverage).

Q: As a member of CPP, which contracts are available to me? Do I have to participate in all of them?

A: Practitioners elect to participate in no-risk contracts utilizing a Messenger Model. Once a year, a fee survey is submitted to all CPP pratitioners, which identifies a floor for acceptable rates as a percentage of Medicare RBRVS or billed charges. Thereafter, contracts and fee proposals are submitted by health plans/networks to the Messenger. Non-competitive terms are reviewed by the Messenger and the Office of General Counsel, while the fee proposal is reviewed solely by the Messenger, and where appropriate, sent to practitioners who have identified acceptable rates that are highter than those set forth in the fee proposal. The practitioners electing to participate respond accordingly to the Messenger. CPP cannot guarantee that a practitioner will be selected for participation, or continued participation, in every health plan entered into by CPP.

Q: Can I participate in another PHO/IPA/PO?

A: Yes. The participation agreement is non-exclusive and does not prevent you from contracting with Payors through participation in another PHO/IPA/PO, or individually or through your own group practice.

Q: Are we able to refer to any physician, facility or other provider within Cleveland Clinic Hospitals?

A: Yes. CPP is organized to be responsive to patient and provider needs concerning access to care by insuring that patients have open access to any CPP Primary Care Physician, Specialty Care Physician or Hospital.

Q: Will the focus be on medical management?

A: Medical management is an integral function of CPP. The focus is on quality and efficiency in the delivery of health care. Efforts will be made to eliminate some of the burdensome medical management processes and duplication of medical management efforts.

Q: How do we confirm the contracts we participate in through CPP?

A: For questions regarding contract participation and/or verification of reimbursement, please call 216-986-1CPP (1277).

Q: Can we admit to Cleveland Clinic Hospitals?

A: Yes, if you have admitting privileges.

Q: Are we financially liable for services rendered to our patients by a covering physician?

A: Under a fee-for-service contract arrangement, the Plan shall compensate participating physicians who provide cross coverage for services rendered to your patients.

Q: How do I become a member of CPP?

A: To initiate the application process, please call the Credentialing Department at (216) 986-1282.