Missoula Ravalli Individual Practice Association

The MRIPA was founded in 1987 and is a local association of approximately 125 independent physicians practicing in the Missoula/Ravalli counties of Western Montana. Our pride and objective has been to be active in the developments in the health care industry in ways that show a willingness to work with the changes, yet maintain some control over the individual practice of medicine. Other issues have been patient's choice of health provider, quality of care review, utilization review, and contract analysis of HMO's PPO's etc., coming into this area. We offer Peer Review services to hospital facilities in Montana and nationwide, to help maintain their quality of care management. The physician members of MRIPA represent nearly all medical specialties and are on staff at local hospitals and surgical centers. The MRIPA is devoted to promoting the health and well being of citizens of Western Montana as well as the educational, professional and business needs of its member physicians. We are committed to:quality medical careaccess to all who need care, and providing high-quality care at an affordable costThe IPA is an outgrowth of the Treasure State Independent Physician Organization (TSIPO) formed in spring of 1987. Physicians in Missoula and Western Montana joined together under the Western Montana Medical Society and leadership of Dr. James Jarrett, with the intent of forming a system to provide quality health care at the lowest possible cost. Others involved in the organization of this program were Mr. Georges Stiles, then executive director of the Charlotte, North Carolina Health Cost Council, and Mr. Raymond Schklar of the Foundation for Physician Resources. This widespread effort resulted in the first IPA's in Montana (ours in Missoula, one in Kalispell and a third in Helena) and in the first managed care program.