capitation

noun

cap·​i·​ta·​tion ˌka-pə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a direct uniform tax imposed on each head or person : poll tax

2

: a uniform per capita payment or fee

3

: a capitated health-care system

Examples of capitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Initially, capitation rates for Medicare Advantage were set at 95% of the average cost of an enrollee in original Medicare. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2023

In general, the sicker the member, the bigger the capitation. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2023

It’s called capitation, and the idea was to encourage medical providers to be more efficient. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2023

With capitation, physicians are prepaid based on the age and known diseases of their patients. —Robert Pearl, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022

Medicare Advantage is a capitation program. —WSJ, 1 Sep. 2021

Under Medicare Advantage, health plans are paid a set amount per patient per month, known as a capitation. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2021

Clinics enroll their eligible clients on income and other factors then manage their care to the rate of capitation; the fewer health problems, the less use, and thus some value capture from the prepaid rate. —Roger Valdez, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022

The alternative to fee for service is capitation, a prepaid approach to medical care. —Robert Pearl, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin capitation-, capitatio poll tax, from Latin capit-, caput

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

capitation

noun

cap·​i·​ta·​tion ˌkap-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a fixed per capita payment made periodically to a medical service provider (as a physician) by a managed care group (as an HMO) in return for medical care provided to enrolled individuals

2

: a capitated health-care system

Legal Definition

capitation

noun

cap·​i·​ta·​tion ˌka-pə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a direct uniform tax imposed on each head or person : poll tax

no capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid

—U.S. Constitution art. I

2

: a uniform per person payment or fee

Etymology

Late Latin capitatio, from Latin caput head