1. Private insurance or managed care plan contract maximum amount (capital sum or principal amount) placed on the expenditure of money for a specific purpose (e.g., maximum benefit coverage). 2. Abbreviation for capitation.
Tag: USA
Cap rate
See: capitation rate (cap rate).
Capacity to contract
Legal condition for both parties (insurance company and insured) to understand the insurance policy terms for a drawn-up agreement to be considered a valid contract.
Capital gain
Dollar amount profit that is made when stocks or bonds (securities) are sold. This is called a realized gain. An unrealized capital gain is when there has been an increase in the value of the stocks or bonds but they have not been sold.
Capital stock
Investment certificates that represent the amount of money or property contributed by shareholders invested to provide money for a corporation to do business and buy equipment.
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The ownership of a corporation as expressed in individually or jointly held shares of stock.
Capitated payment
Annual fee paid by the insurance company to the physician, hospital facility, or network that provides health care to a patient.
capitation (cap or CAP)
System of payment used by managed care plans in which physicians and hospitals are paid a fixed, per capita amount for each patient enrolled over a stated period of time (month or year), regardless of the type and number of services provided; reimbursement to the hospital on a per member per month (PMPM) basis to cover costs for the members of the plan.
Capitation basis
Method of compensation used by managed care plans in which a provider is paid either a flat amount per year per subscriber or a predetermined amount for each service. For the flat amount per year arrangement, the provider must treat the subscriber as often as needed during the year.
Capitation rate (cap rate)
1. Providers and managed care plans negotiate a per member per month (PMPM) amount per enrollee to cover the expected cost of services to be provided to a member. The provider gives all contracted care and services to members for a prospective payment with retroactive adjustments, taking the risk that the capitation rate will cover all of the costs of care to the members. Although cap rates are usually fixed, they can be adjusted for the age or gender of members based on actuarial (statistical) projections of health care utilization. 2. Under Medicare guidelines, fixed amount the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pays to an approved managed care plan selected by an enrolled Medicare beneficiary.
Capped fee
See: fee schedule.