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To look up a health care term such as Actuary, choose the letter that the term begins with below under Alphabetical Glossary. This will take you to the terms beginning with that letter. To look up a health care acronym such as AIDS, choose the letter that the term begins with below under Acronyms. This will take you to all acronyms that begin with that letter.

Gag-Clause or Gag-Rule	A provision in a provider contract with a managed care organization or insurer that prevents providers from discussing all available treatment options or financial incentives provided by the insurer with patients.
Gatekeeper	A primary care physician responsible for overseeing and coordinating all aspects of a patient's medical care and pre-authorizing specialty care.
Gatekeeping	The process by which a primary care physician coordinates the use of all services required for a patient's medical care.
General Practitioner	A physician whose practice is based on a broad understanding of all illnesses and who does not restrict his/her practice to any particular field of medicine.
Generic Drug or Substitution	In cases in which the patent on a specific pharmaceutical product expires and drug manufacturers produce generic versions of the original branded product, the generic version of the drug (which is theorized to be exactly the same product manufactured by a different firm) is dispensed even though the original product is prescribed. Some managed care organizations and Medicaid programs mandate generic substitution because of the generally lower cost of generic products.
Geographic Factor	See geographic multiplier.
Geographic Multiplier	A factor used to make geographic adjustments to the Medicare Fee Schedule or any other fee schedule. The term "geographic factor" is also used.
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner	An RN with advanced training in geriatrics. Also see nurse practitioner.
Geriatrics	Medical field specializing in care for the elderly.
Geriatrician	A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of older persons.
Gerontology	Social Science field studying the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging.
Global Budgets	Global budgets or expenditure limits are prospectively defined caps on spending for some portion of the health care industry. Several industrialized countries have applied global budgeting in various forms. Many of these systems (e.g., France, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland) concentrate their global budgets solely on hospital operating budgets treating capital expenditure outside the annual budget process. Others, including Canada and the United Kingdom, have global budgets that cover both hospital and physician expenditures. Global budgeting in the U.S. as envisioned by most proponents would establish binding targets for permissible growth in the U.S. health care system. Many issues remain unclear, however. In particular, the scope of services to be included (e.g., public vs. private sector programs), and the method for enforcing budget caps (e.g., price controls, premium controls, etc.).
Global Service	A package of clinically related services treated as a unit for purposes of billing, coding, or payment.
Grace Period	A set number of days past the due date of a premium payment during which medical coverage may not be canceled and through which the premium payment may be made.
Graduate Medical Education (GME)	Medical education as an intern, resident or fellow after graduating from a medical school.
Grandfathering	When rules change, current participants remain unaffected and the new rules only apply to new participants.
Greatest Economic Need	The need resulting from an income level at or below the poverty threshold established by the Bureau of the Census. Also see targeting.
Greatest Social Need	The need caused by non-economic factors which include physical and mental disabilities, language barriers, and cultural or social isolation including that caused by racial or ethnic status which restricts an individual's ability to perform normal daily tasks or which threatens his or her capacity to live independently. Also see targeting.
Grievance	The process by which an individual can air complaints and seek remedies.
Grievance Procedure	The process by which a health plan member or participating provider can air complaints and seek remedies.
Group Health Insurance	Health insurance purchased through a group that exists for some purpose other than buying insurance, such as a workplace, labor union, or professional association.
Group Insurance	Any insurance policy or health services contract by which groups of employees (and often their dependents) are covered under a single policy or contract, issued by their employer or other group entity.
Group Model HMO	An HMO that contracts with a multi-specialty medical group to provide care for HMOmembers; members are required to receive medical care from a physician within the group unless a referral is made outside the network.
Group Practice Association	A formal arrangement of three or more physicians or other health professionals providing health services. Income is pooled and redistributed to the members of the group according to a prearranged plan.
Group Practice HMO Model	An HMO model in which the HMO contracts with one or more medical group(s) on a capitation basis for the provision of services. The physicians practice in a common facility and use common staff. Income is pooled and distributed according to an agreed-upon plan.
Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)	An organization that pools purchasers working together to provide larger potential purchases and therefore lower costs.
Guaranteed Issue	The requirement that an insurer or health plan accept everyone, regardless of health, income or age, that applies for coverage and guarantees the renewal of that coverage as long as the premium is paid.
Guaranteed Renewability	The requirement that each insurer and health plan continue to renew health policies purchased by individuals as long as the person continues to pay the premium for the policy.