Final answer:
Capitation is a payment arrangement where a healthcare provider is paid a set amount per patient regardless of how many services are used, which is distinct from deductible, fee-for-service, and coinsurance payment models. CORRECT ANSWER IS A- deductible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The payment method being described in the question is capitation. This is where a provider is paid a fixed rate per patient regardless of how many services are provided to the patient. It's a common model in health maintenance organizations (HMOs), where healthcare providers receive a set amount of money for each patient enrolled under them, per period of time, whether or not that person seeks care.
This model contrasts with other payment methods such as deductible, where policyholders pay out-of-pocket expenses up to a certain amount before their insurance starts to cover costs, and fee-for-service, in which payments to physicians or healthcare providers are dependent on each service provided to a patient. Another model is coinsurance, where the policyholder and the insurance provider share the costs incurred from medical services after the deductible is met. The capitation model is designed to encourage efficient and limited use of healthcare services.