Quality assurance and prepaid programs.

This article presents the concepts of quality assurance and the various mechanisms that are employed in quality assurance systems. The implications for quality assurance are discussed in relation to the major types of prepaid programs. Capitation dental plans have certain opportunities to engage in quality assurance, whereas indemnity plans face a more complex set of constraints. Each type of plan faces different problems and requirements, and each needs to design quality assurance systems that address their concerns.