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Rheumatology

Study of disorders characterized by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement of connective tissue and related structures of the body such as arthritis and rheumatic disorders.

Right of survivorship

Clause in a life insurance policy that refers to ownership of property by two or more people in which the survivors automatically gain ownership of a decedent’s interest.
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US: at the death of one co-owner of property, that person’s interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant or tenants.

Rights of individuals

In the Medicare program, a beneficiary is entitled to receive notice of information practices; see and copy his or her own records; request corrections; obtain accounting of disclosures; request restrictions and confidential communications; and file complaints.

Risk adjustment

System of changing capitation rates paid to providers of medical services given to a group of members whose medical care has higher medical costs than average. This may be due to medical condition, geographical location, age, gender, ethnicity, or race. Also called risk load or risk adjuster .

Risk class

Group of insured individuals who have a similar risk to the insurance company. Common risk classes are standard, preferred, nonsmoker, substandard, and uninsurable.

Risk contract

1. Provider’s agreement with a managed care plan to deliver medical services to members for a determined, fixed payment without knowing the cost of the services. The provider is responsible for managing the medical care and risks losing money if total expenses are more than the predetermined amount of funds. 2. In a Medicare risk contract, the federal government sends monthly fixed payments to the managed care plan for services given to Medicare beneficiaries who join the plan and agree to receive all medical care through the plan. The plan is at risk for services regardless of the extent, expense, or intensity of services rendered. Sometimes an additional fee may be paid by each enrollee. Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in risk contracts are not required to pay monthly premiums.