Business composed of physicians or medical practices into one management arrangement. Physicians see patients in their own offices but share administrative, billing, and purchasing expenditures. GWW contracts with managed care plans as a sole entity. Also called group practice without walls (GPWW) .

Automated computer coding software program that classifies numeric diagnostic codes and assigns DRGs of discharged patients using the following information: patient’s age, sex, principal diagnosis, complications/comorbid conditions, principal procedure, and discharge status. A grouper is essential to reimbursement because it determines which type of complicated diagnosis and/or additional procedures affect a principal diagnosis and place the case into the appropriate DRG.

Guaranteed amount available to the insured on surrender of a life insurance policy based on a table of guaranteed values scaled to the number of years in which the policy is in force.

Specific period (3 to 6 months) in which patients who are insured in prepaid health plans are eligible for Medicaid regardless of their actual eligibility for Medicaid. A state may apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a waiver to have this put into its contracts.

Life insurance policy amendment that allows the policyholder to buy additional insurance of the same type as that provided in the original policy. The amount is specified in the policy and may be purchased at specific premium rates and at certain times without new evidence of insurability. Also called policy purchase rider .

Mechanism of funding for a retirement plan in which an insurance company accepts a single deposit from a sponsor of the plan for a certain time period and retains the deposit at a specific interest rate. At the end of the time period the deposited funds, with interest, are returned to the plan sponsor who may reinvest the plan assets with the insurance company or another party. Also called guaranteed income contract or guaranteed interest contract .