skimping

skimping

The delaying or denial of services to members of a prepaid or “capped” health plan, as a means of controlling costs.

Rationale
Because the monies received by the health plan remain constant, providing “extra” services is more costly to the plan.

Examples
Delaying cataract surgery or reducing approvals of costly procedures, to levels below what is considered appropriate by knowledgeable practitioners.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

'skimping'

Managed care The delaying or denial of services to members of a prepaid or 'capped' health plan, to control costs–because the monies received by the health plan remain constant, providing 'extra' services is more costly to the plan. See Skimming, Capitation.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.