Cost Allocation (also known as Allocation, Cost, Allocations, Cost): The assignment, to each of several particular cost-centers, of an equitable proportion of the costs of activities that serve all of them. Cost-center usually refers to institutional departments or services.

NIH MeSH · D003361Health Care

Cost Allocation

Also known asAllocation, Cost · Allocations, Cost · Cost Allocations · Cost Apportionment · Apportionment, Cost · Apportionments, Cost · Cost Apportionments · Cost Shifting · Cost Shiftings · Shifting, Cost · Shiftings, Cost

Definition

The assignment, to each of several particular cost-centers, of an equitable proportion of the costs of activities that serve all of them. Cost-center usually refers to institutional departments or services.

MeSH classification

  • N03.219.151.080

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Related concepts

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Cost Savings

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Cost Sharing

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Common questions about Cost Allocation

What does Cost Allocation mean in medicine?
The assignment, to each of several particular cost-centers, of an equitable proportion of the costs of activities that serve all of them. Cost-center usually refers to institutional departments or services. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Cost Allocation known by any other names?
Yes. Cost Allocation is also referred to as Allocation, Cost, Allocations, Cost, Cost Allocations, Cost Apportionment in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Cost Allocation sit in the medical classification?
Cost Allocation falls under the broader medical category "Health Care" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: N03.219.151.080). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Cost Allocation?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D003361) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗