Republicans in Congress wanted to promote the growth of private health plans, especially preferred provider organizations.

In each region, Medicare beneficiaries would have access to at least two private plans known as preferred provider organizations.

How large are the regions that must be served by health plans known as preferred provider organizations?

The proposal for provider organizations is one of several that would try private-sector approaches to health care.

About 90 million people are in health plans that offer preferred provider organizations, which grew rapidly over the last five years.

As a result, preferred provider organizations have often fallen short of the 15 to 40 percent savings expected over traditional plans.

No one knows whether preferred provider organizations can hold down costs with retrospective review.

They can pick preferred provider organizations with a wide selection of physicians.

That's why we've decided to include preferred provider organizations.

A preferred provider organization typically has a network of doctors.