fee-for-service

noun

fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs How to pronounce fee-for-service (audio)
often attributive
: separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient

Examples of fee-for-service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Today, the widespread prevalence of chronic diseases in 6 out of 10 Americans underlines the limitations of the fee-for-service (FFS) model. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Analyzing the feasibility of improving traditional, fee-for-service Medicare as an alternative to primarily relying on Medicare Advantage, too. Mariela Torres Cintrón, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 Managed care organizations tend to have strong protections against fraud and abuse, but the fraudsters apparently detected weakness in the AHCCCS fee-for-service model. The Arizona Republic, 26 Jan. 2024 The paper assumes that providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis, which data on actual paymentssupports as still the dominant payment structure. Michael L. Millenson, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Challenges in naïve program design, execution, and the complexities of transitioning from fee-for-service healthcare models contribute to disillusionment. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2024 Today, 60% of payments to physicians remain fee-for-service. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, STAT, 21 Dec. 2023 Because people may get more care than necessary, fee-for-service payment arrangements can potentially lead to escalating healthcare costs and higher health insurance premiums. Elaine Hinzey, Verywell Health, 17 Dec. 2023 Insurers compete for patients by offering benefits, including vision and dental care that aren’t available in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fee-for-service.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fee-for-service was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near fee-for-service

Cite this Entry

“Fee-for-service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fee-for-service. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

fee-for-service

noun
fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs How to pronounce fee-for-service (audio)
: separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient
often used attributively
a fee-for-service group plan
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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