fee-for-service

noun

fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs 

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

These challenges, coupled with the impacts of fee-for-service reimbursement models and staffing mandates, contribute to poor patient outcomes and create a cycle that seems increasingly difficult to break. —Dave Wessinger, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

However, despite the clear drawbacks of the fee-for-service model and the benefits of capitation, the transition has been slow. —Robert Pearl, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Perverse incentives Suppose you were accused of a crime and your lawyer was paid by fee-for-service. —John C. Goodman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

MedPAC maintains that its data show MA is overpaid relative to fee-for-service Medicare, though not all commissioners agree with that analysis. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

fee-for-service

noun

fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs 

: separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient

—often used attributively

a fee-for-service group plan