capitation

[kap-i-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. a numbering or assessing by the head.

2. a poll tax.

3. a fee or payment of a uniform amount for each person.

capitation

/ ˌkæpɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a tax levied on the basis of a fixed amount per head

2. a grant of money given to every person who qualifies under certain conditions

3. the process of assessing or numbering by counting heads

Other Word Forms

• capitative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitation¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French, from Late Latin capitātiōn- (stem of capitātiō ), equivalent to Latin capit- (stem of caput ) “head” + -ātiōn noun suffix; -ation

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitation¹

C17: from Late Latin capitātiō, from Latin caput head

Example Sentences

Oak Street operated on a capitation basis under the Medicare Advantage program—which meant the bulk of its revenues were keyed off the number of enrolled Medicare patients, leaving it vulnerable to higher-than-expected expenses.

Read more on Barron's

It is based on the ability of the state’s integrated medical groups to provide high-quality care at a lower cost by receiving monthly revenue per enrollee, a payment system known as capitation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And they began writing down every medical condition in a member, often too aggressively and sometimes inappropriately “upcoding” to boost the capitation amount.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If the doctors overprescribe, they could lose money on patient care; if they keep services under control, they pocket more of the capitation for themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Iora, for example, operates through Medicare Advantage on what is known as a capitation system, getting a set amount for the care of each patient that includes health coaching.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• contribution 
• cost 
• duty 
• expense 
• fine 
• levy 
• price 
• rate 
• tariff