Which managed care model is described as allowing care through a network of individual medical practitioners?

The Individual Practice Association (IPA) is indeed characterized by allowing care through a network of individual medical practitioners. In this model, independent physicians operate within their own practices but contract with the IPA to provide services to the members of the managed care plan. This offers flexibility for patients to choose their preferred doctors while still receiving the cost advantages that come with being part of a managed care network.

One of the key aspects of the IPA model is that it usually combines elements of both the traditional fee-for-service approach and managed care, enabling a more extensive choice of providers compared to other models. Unlike an HMO, which typically requires members to receive care exclusively from network providers, the IPA allows more flexibility in selecting healthcare practitioners while still ensuring that costs are managed through the association with the individual providers.

This stands in contrast to models such as EPOs and HMOs, which have more stringent requirements regarding network participation and referral processes. While the Point of Service model does allow for some choice of providers, it often requires referrals and may not always provide the same level of flexibility as the IPA. Thus, the unique structure of the IPA makes it the correct answer for the question regarding managed care through a network of individual medical practitioners.