Preferred provider organization
A preferred provider organization is a subscription-based medical care arrangement. A membership allows a substantial discount below the regularly charged rates of the designated professionals partnered with the organization. Preferred provider organizations themselves earn money by charging an access fee to the insurance company for the use of their network (unlike the usual insurance with premiums and corresponding payments paid either in full or partially by the insurance provider to the medical doctor). They negotiate with providers to set fee schedules, and handle disputes between insurers and providers. PPOs can also contract with one another to strengthen their position in certain geographic areas without forming new relationships directly with providers. This will be mutually beneficial in theory, as be billed at a reduced rate when its insureds utilize the services of the "preferred" provider and the provider will see an increase in its business as almost all insureds in the organization will use only providers who are members. PPOs have gained popularity because, although they tend to have slightly higher premiums than HMOs and other more restrictive plans, they offer patients more flexibility overall.
The People's Operator
The People's Operator (or TPO Mobile) is a mobile virtual network operator that provides mobile phone services in the United Kingdom via the Three (though TPO had initially selected the EE company), and in the United States via the Sprint and T-Mobile networks. It was launched in 2012, with the stated aim of being an ethical mobile network operator. TPO asserts that their service gives private customers the opportunity to support good causes, charities/nonprofits, "progressive organisations" or "ethical groups" of their choice and receive updates on how their money is being spent, while businesses can fulfil their corporate social responsibility commitments. The company's stock dropped nearly 90 percent in value in its first year and a half. Trading of The People's Operator stock on the London exchange was suspended in July 2018, when the company had failed to provide its 2017 financial reports. In December 2018, the company received a cash infusion from the holding company that is majority owner of Lycamobile. In 2016, nearly twenty Lycamobile employees were arrested in France, with about half of them charged with money laundering.