Medicare Plus (+) Choice (M+C) plans offer a number of health care options in addition to those available under Medicare Part A and Part B. It was created under the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) in 1997. Plans may include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), fee-for-service plans, provider-sponsored organizations (PPOs), point-of-service (POS) plans, provider-sponsored organizations (PSOs), religious fraternal benefit society plans (RFPs), and Medicare medical savings accounts (MSAs). Also see Medicare Plus (+) Choice (M+C) plan and zero premium plan .

Stand-alone drug plan, presented by insurance and other private companies that offer drug coverage that meets the standards established by Medicare. Other names for these plans are Part D prescription drug plans, PDPs , or MA-PDs .

Commission established by Congress in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to replace the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (ProPAC) and the Physician Payment Review Commission (PPRC). MedPAC is directed to provide the Congress with annual advice and recommendations on payment policies affecting Medicare Parts A, B, and C. These recommendations are factored into CMS rates for Parts A and B and payments to Part C plans.

Health benefits coverage offered under a policy or contract by an M+C organization under which a specific set of health benefits are offered at a uniform premium and uniform level of cost-sharing to all Medicare beneficiaries residing in the service area of the M+C plan. An M+C plan may be a coordinated care plan (with or without point-of-service options), a combination of an M+C medical savings account (MSA) plan, and a contribution into an M+C MSA or an M+C private fee-for-service plan. Also referred to as Medicare Part C , which was replaced in 2006 by the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. See Medicare Part C .

Medicare program created in 1997 and also referred to as Medicare Part C , which was replaced in 2006 by the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. See Medicare Part C .

Public or private entity organized and licensed by a state as a risk-bearing entity (with the exception of a provider-sponsored organization receiving waivers) that is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as meeting the M+C contract requirements. Also referred to as Medicare Part C , which was replaced in 2006 by the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. See Medicare Part C .

Type of Medicare Advantage Plan in which the member uses doctors, hospitals, and providers that belong to the network but can also use physicians, hospitals, and providers outside of the network for an additional cost.

Contractor that handles all Medicare direct-billing payments for direct-billed beneficiaries. MPCC is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Federal legislation enacted in 2003 that amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary program for prescription drug coverage under the Medicare program, to modernize the Medicare program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction to individuals for amounts contributed to health savings security accounts and health savings accounts, to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and for other purposes.