National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

A non-profit organization created to improve patient care quality and health plan performance in partnership with managed care plans, purchasers, consumers, and the public sector.

National Drug Code (NDC)

Classification system for drug identification, similar to UPC code.

National Health Insurance

Proposal by politicians to make government the single payor for all health care, similar to Great Britain or Canada . Providers like some aspects of this idea because it provides for "universal coverage" for all citizens. However, businesses and providers (as businesses themselves) dislike the idea of the government administering a program that they will either have to fund or be funded by. Proposals for national health insurance are surely to be debated by politicians for many years to come. See also Universal Coverage.

Network

An affiliation of providers through formal and informal contracts and agreements. Networks may contract externally to obtain administrative and financial services. A list of physicians, hospitals and other providers who provide health care services to the beneficiaries of a specific managed care organization. See also IDS, PPO, PHO or Hospital Alliances.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Neo ICU)

A hospital unit with special equipment for the care of premature and seriously ill newborn infants.

Non-participating Physician (or Provider)

A provider, doctor or hospital that does not sign a contract to participate in a health plan, usually which requires reduced rates from the provider. In the Medicare Program, this refers to providers who are therefore not obligated to accept assignment on all Medicare claims. In commercial plans, non-participating providers are also called out of network providers or out of plan providers. If a beneficiary receives service from an out of network provider, the health plan (other than Medicare) will pay for the service at a reduced rate or will not pay at all.

Non-Plan Provider

A health care provider without a contract with an insurer. Same as nonparticipating provider.

Nurse practitioner

A registered nurse qualified and specially trained to provide primary care, including primary health care in homes and in ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities, and other health care institutions. Nurse practitioners generally function under the supervision of a physician but not necessarily in his/her or her presence. They are usually salaried rather than reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis, although the supervising physician may receive fee-for-service reimbursement for their services. Are also considered "midlevel practitioners".