Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations (TPO) Policy Term Definition

Three core functions of providing health care to patients.  Treatment involves the administering, coordinating and management of health care services by UTMB for its patients.  Payment includes any activities undertaken either by UTMB or a third party to obtain premiums, determine or fulfill its responsibility for coverage and the provision of benefits or to obtain or provide reimbursement for the provision of health care. Health care Operations are activities related to UTMB’s functions as a health care provider, including general administrative and business functions necessary for UTMB to remain a viable health care provider. For more detailed definitions of TPO, see IHOP Policy 6.2.0, Maintaining Patient
Confidentiality through the Appropriate Use and Disclosure of PHI.