diff --git a/backend/.env.example b/backend/.env.example
index e1a3f19..ec6b432 100644
--- a/backend/.env.example
+++ b/backend/.env.example
@@ -57,3 +57,8 @@ PLATFORM_RELEASER_SECRET=
 ESCROW_CONTRACT_ID=CAXESEEAJILFFCN3PH2HHNMWAAHLEB64UTJHZ6IP7C5BBICT3S3VODSM
 # Native XLM SAC on testnet (stellar contract id asset --asset native --network testnet)
 ESCROW_TOKEN_ID=CDLZFC3SYJYDZT7K67VZ75HPJVIEUVNIXF47ZG2FB2RMQQVU2HHGCYSC
+# Issue #92 testnet-only prototype: defaults to direct facility payouts.
+# `pooled` routes escrow payouts to this shared G-address and is rejected in
+# production; use only a testnet account during evaluation.
+PAYOUT_PRIVACY_MODE=facility
+PAYOUT_PRIVACY_POOL_ADDRESS=
diff --git a/backend/src/config/index.ts b/backend/src/config/index.ts
index 7c2b0c0..ead5fbf 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config/index.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import 'dotenv/config';
 
+const payoutPrivacyMode = process.env.PAYOUT_PRIVACY_MODE ?? 'facility';
+if (payoutPrivacyMode !== 'facility' && payoutPrivacyMode !== 'pooled') {
+  throw new Error('PAYOUT_PRIVACY_MODE must be either "facility" or "pooled".');
+}
+
 function requireEnv(name: string): string {
   const value = process.env[name];
   if (!value) throw new Error(`Missing required env var: ${name}`);
@@ -146,5 +151,7 @@ export const config = {
     platformReleaserSecret: process.env.PLATFORM_RELEASER_SECRET,
     escrowContractId: process.env.ESCROW_CONTRACT_ID,
     escrowTokenId: process.env.ESCROW_TOKEN_ID,
+    payoutPrivacyMode,
+    payoutPrivacyPoolAddress: process.env.PAYOUT_PRIVACY_POOL_ADDRESS,
   },
 } as const;
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/payments/services/index.ts b/backend/src/modules/payments/services/index.ts
index d159248..8dab534 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/payments/services/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/payments/services/index.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { HttpError } from '../../../http-error';
 import { config } from '../../../config';
 import * as paymentsRepo from '../repositories';
 import { loadEscrowSdk } from './escrow-sdk-loader';
+import { resolveEscrowPayee } from './payout-privacy';
 import { paginate, type PatientExportSection } from '../../patients/services';
 import { prisma } from '../../../db/prisma-client';
 import * as auditService from '../../audit/services';
@@ -125,11 +126,17 @@ export async function fundPaymentIntent(actor: auditService.AuditActor, id: stri
   if (!walletLink) throw new HttpError(409, 'The facility for this payment has no linked wallet.');
 
   const { platformPayer, platformReleaser, escrowContractId, escrowTokenId } = await requirePaymentsConfig();
+  const payee = resolveEscrowPayee({
+    facilityAddress: walletLink.stellarPublicKey,
+    mode: config.payments.payoutPrivacyMode,
+    poolAddress: config.payments.payoutPrivacyPoolAddress,
+    production: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production',
+  });
   const client = await escrowClient(escrowContractId);
 
   const { escrowId, txHash } = await client.createEscrow({
     payer: platformPayer,
-    payee: walletLink.stellarPublicKey,
+    payee,
     token: escrowTokenId,
     amount: intent.amountStroops,
     // The PaymentIntent's own id is the opaque condition_ref — the
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/payments/services/payout-privacy.ts b/backend/src/modules/payments/services/payout-privacy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a76ff9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/modules/payments/services/payout-privacy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { HttpError } from '../../../http-error';
+
+export function resolveEscrowPayee(input: {
+  facilityAddress: string;
+  mode: 'facility' | 'pooled';
+  poolAddress?: string;
+  production: boolean;
+}): string {
+  if (input.mode === 'facility') return input.facilityAddress;
+  if (input.production) {
+    throw new HttpError(503, 'Pooled payout privacy is a testnet prototype and is disabled in production.');
+  }
+  if (!input.poolAddress || !/^G[A-Z2-7]{55}$/.test(input.poolAddress)) {
+    throw new HttpError(503, 'Pooled payout privacy requires a valid PAYOUT_PRIVACY_POOL_ADDRESS.');
+  }
+  return input.poolAddress;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/tests/testnet-integration/payments.test.mts b/backend/tests/testnet-integration/payments.test.mts
index 3ae83ae..c27f2de 100644
--- a/backend/tests/testnet-integration/payments.test.mts
+++ b/backend/tests/testnet-integration/payments.test.mts
@@ -123,6 +123,15 @@ describe('payments module against live testnet', () => {
     expect(funded.escrowId).not.toBeNull();
     expect(funded.stellarTxHash).toBeTruthy();
 
+    const transactionResponse = await fetch(`https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org/transactions/${funded.stellarTxHash}`);
+    if (!transactionResponse.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`Unable to retrieve testnet fee measurement: HTTP ${transactionResponse.status}`);
+    }
+    const transaction = (await transactionResponse.json()) as { fee_charged: string };
+    console.log(
+      `[payout privacy testnet] ${process.env.PAYOUT_PRIVACY_MODE ?? 'facility'} funding fee: ${transaction.fee_charged} stroops`,
+    );
+
     const released = await paymentsService.releasePaymentIntent(TEST_ACTOR, intent.id);
     expect(released.status).toBe('released');
   }, 60_000);
diff --git a/backend/tests/unit/payment-payout-privacy.test.ts b/backend/tests/unit/payment-payout-privacy.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4285ec6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/unit/payment-payout-privacy.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { HttpError } from '../../src/http-error';
+import { resolveEscrowPayee } from '../../src/modules/payments/services/payout-privacy';
+
+const facilityAddress = `G${'A'.repeat(55)}`;
+const poolAddress = `G${'B'.repeat(55)}`;
+
+describe('payout privacy prototype', () => {
+  it('keeps the facility wallet as the default payout destination', () => {
+    expect(resolveEscrowPayee({ facilityAddress, mode: 'facility', production: true })).toBe(facilityAddress);
+  });
+
+  it('uses the shared pool only when explicitly enabled outside production', () => {
+    expect(resolveEscrowPayee({ facilityAddress, mode: 'pooled', poolAddress, production: false })).toBe(poolAddress);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects pooled mode in production or without a valid pool address', () => {
+    expect(() => resolveEscrowPayee({ facilityAddress, mode: 'pooled', poolAddress, production: true })).toThrow(HttpError);
+    expect(() => resolveEscrowPayee({ facilityAddress, mode: 'pooled', production: false })).toThrow(HttpError);
+    expect(() => resolveEscrowPayee({ facilityAddress, mode: 'pooled', poolAddress: `M${'A'.repeat(55)}`, production: false })).toThrow(HttpError);
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file