Par
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Participating (provider) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Government & Politics, Geography & Places |
| Also written | PAR |
Par has four meanings. The most common are Participating (provider) (health insurance) and Personnel accountability report (emergency services); it can also stand for Periodic automatic replenishment and Paraguay.
Meanings of Par at a glance
| # | Par stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Participating (provider) | Medical › Health Insurance |
| 2 | Personnel accountability report | Government & Politics › Emergency Services |
| 3 | Periodic automatic replenishment | Medical › Pharmacy |
| 4 | Paraguay | Geography & Places › Country Code |
1. Participating (provider)
Medical · Health Insurance Abbreviations
Billing shorthand for a provider who has a contract with a health plan or who has agreed to accept Medicare assignment on all claims. Par providers accept the plan's allowed amount as payment in full, apart from the patient's cost sharing.
Example: Dr. Lee is par with Medicare, so she bills Medicare directly and accepts assignment.
Non-participating Medicare providers can accept assignment case by case and may otherwise charge up to 15 percent above the Medicare fee schedule amount, known as the limiting charge. "Non-par" is the opposite. In finance and golf, par has entirely different meanings.
2. Personnel accountability report (PAR)
Government & Politics · Emergency Services Abbreviations
Roll call in which fire officers confirm that all members of their crews are accounted for during an incident. Incident commanders request a PAR at set intervals and after events such as a mayday, collapse or change of strategy.
Example: Command to all units, give me a PAR; we're switching to defensive operations.
Accountability systems use name tags or electronic tracking to record who is inside a hazard area. PARs are often requested every 20 minutes or so. Failures in accountability have been cited in firefighter fatality investigations.
3. Periodic automatic replenishment (PAR)
Medical · Pharmacy Abbreviations
Inventory method in which a set "par level" is defined for each stocked item, and stock in a pharmacy, ward or automated cabinet is refilled back to that level on a regular schedule.
Example: Raise the ondansetron PAR in the ED cabinet from 10 to 20 during flu season.
Par levels balance availability against waste and diversion risk; they are reviewed using usage reports from automated dispensing cabinets. During drug shortages, pharmacies may lower par levels and centralize scarce items. In health insurance PAR often means a participating provider.
4. Paraguay (PAR)
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Sports code for Paraguay used by FIFA and the IOC, while ISO uses PRY. Paraguay's best World Cup run was a quarterfinal in 2010.
Example: PAR held Brazil to a draw in Asunción.
Paraguay's national team is nicknamed La Albirroja for its red-and-white stripes. In golf, par is the expected score for a hole, an unrelated word.
Related abbreviations
More health insurance abbreviations
- OON – Out-of-network
- OOP – Out-of-pocket
- OPPS – Outpatient Prospective Payment System
- PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- PDP – Prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D)
- PHI – Protected health information
- PIP – Personal injury protection
- PMPM – Per member per month
See all 107 health insurance abbreviations →
More emergency services abbreviations
- NG911 – Next Generation 911
- NIMS – National Incident Management System
- NRF – National Response Framework
- P25 – Project 25
- PASS – Personal alert safety system
- PIO – Public information officer
- PPC – Public Protection Classification
- PPV – Positive pressure ventilation
See all 72 emergency services abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.