Medicare+ Choice

An expanded set of options for delivering healthcare under Medicare (US), which was established by the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, under which most Medicare beneficiaries can choose to receive benefits through the original fee-for-service program or through one of three M+C plans.

Medicare+ Choice
• Co-ordinated care plans—e.g., HMOs, provider sponsored organisations, PPOs;
• Medical Savings Account (MSA)/High Deductible plans—available to up to 400K beneficiaries;
• Private fee-for-service plans.

References in periodicals archive ?

(2000) Making Medicare+ Choice Real: Understanding and Meeting the Information Needs of Beneficiaries at the Local Level.

Market characteristics and awareness of managed care options among elderly beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare

"The Effect of Health Plan Characteristics on Medicare+ Choice Enrollment." Health Services Research 38 (1, part 1): 113-35.

Will choice-based reform work for Medicare? Evidence from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Therefore, rising drug costs are a major concern for Medicare and the for-profit and non-profit managed care plans (e.g., Medicare+ Choice) enrolling Medicare-aged patients.

High drug prices, the U.S. elderly, and drug expenditure control policies

After peaking in 1999 with roughly 7 million members, enrollment in the Medicare+ Choice (M+C) Program has been dropping.

Medicare+Choice individual and group enrollment: 2001 and 2002

The CMS also will spend $35 million to bring more beneficiaries into the Medicare+ Choice program.

HCFA Changes Name in Bid to Burnish Reputation

One division, the Center for Beneficiary Choices, will focus on the Medicare+ Choice program.

New bill would provide funds to train more lab personnel

She has lectured extensively on the Medicare+ Choice appeals process and currently practices with the Washington, DC office of Vinson & Elkins.

Salvage denied claims with Medicare + Choice appeal

Paul also previewed a separate effort in which Medicare will pay qualifying Medicare+ Choice organizations more to reflect the additional costs of providing high-quality care to their enrollees with congestive heart failure (CHF).

HCFA Moves to Improve CHF Care and Cut Hospitalization Rate

"That's something we've seen in the Medicare+ Choice program, and people have different opinions on how well it's worked," said Kristin Stewart, director of private market issues, American Association of Health Plans.

Freedom of Choice

This past summer, 65 Medicare+ Choice HMOs chose not to renew their Medicare+Choice contracts, and 53 reduced their service areas.

CHANGE IN Plans

Under the 1997 legislation, however, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to avoid such rationing by picking the new Medicare+ Choice option of a "private fee-for-service plan." In order to do so, they will be permitted to add their own money on top of the government payment to pay a premium high enough to provide treatments without rationing.

Breaux Proposes "Premium Support" Reform of Medicare

The Health Care Financing Administration is proceeding to implement all five health coverage options--"Medicare+ Choice"--adopted by Congress in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act.

Challenges for physician executives in the Millennium marketplace. (Beyond Managed Care)