Prepayment

System of paying for medical services before receiving them such as in the form of scheduled monthly insurance premiums or a budgeted basis, without regard to services rendered. In managed care plans, capitation is a form of prepayment.
***
UK: Payment in advance. Occurs when the employer’s pension contributions exceed the actuarial calculation as being the contributions required. The prepayment, is shown in the employer’s (not the pension scheme’s) accounts as an asset.

Prepayment health care plans

Prepaid health care plans that meet federal legal standards for managed care plans (e.g., health maintenance organizations, provider-sponsored organizations, preferred provider organizations, or other types of network plans except network medical savings account plans). They incorporate cost containment and emphasize preventive care to members of the plans. Also referred to as coordinated care (CC) plans or managed care plans.

Prescription

Written order for medication, therapy, or therapeutic device given by a physician, dentist, or other licensed practitioner, which then goes to a person authorized to dispense the order.
***
Creation (or extinguishment) of a legal right or obligation by the lapse of time.

prescription benefit manager (PBM)

Management company or organization that monitors prescription claims for managed care plans and tracks the drugs and volume prescribed by the plan’s participating providers of medical services. The PBM’s sophisticated information systems help identify patients who have chronic diseases, drug utilization, compliance patterns, and physicians’ prescribing patterns. Also called pharmacy benefit manager (PBM).