Which payment type is described as covering a defined set of services across a specified period?

Which payment type is described as covering a defined set of services across a specified period?

• A. Self-pay
• B. Prospective payment
• C. Capitation
• D. Global payment

Answer: (D)

Global payment is a single negotiated amount that is intended to cover all the care included in a defined set of services over a specific period. This bundled approach means one price covers everything within that scope for the entire time frame, encouraging coordination and cost control across the care episode. For example, a global payment might cover all prenatal care, delivery, and a defined postnatal period under one price. This differs from self-pay (which the patient pays out of pocket), prospective payment (a price set before services but not necessarily bundled for an entire period), and capitation (a fixed per-member-per-month payment to cover a defined set of services, typically on an ongoing basis).

Global payment is a single negotiated amount that is intended to cover all the care included in a defined set of services over a specific period. This bundled approach means one price covers everything within that scope for the entire time frame, encouraging coordination and cost control across the care episode. For example, a global payment might cover all prenatal care, delivery, and a defined postnatal period under one price. This differs from self-pay (which the patient pays out of pocket), prospective payment (a price set before services but not necessarily bundled for an entire period), and capitation (a fixed per-member-per-month payment to cover a defined set of services, typically on an ongoing basis).