B

Balanced Budget Act (BBA)

Legislation enacted in 1997 that included a variety of reimbursement cuts to Medicare providers.

Balanced Budget Refinement Act (BBRA)

Legislation enacted in 1999 to give relief to providers impacted by Balanced Budget Act (BBA)

Basic Health Plan Program

A provision in the Affordable Care Act that gives states the option to create subsidized health coverage for lower income individuals and families who earn enough to be ineligible for Medicaid.

Benchmark Coverage

An alternative definition of basic care standards, found in the Social Security Act, that states may follow instead of Medicaid mandatory benefits requirements.

Beneficiary

Any individual who is eligible to receive health coverage under an insurance plan. This includes any dependents or others who are covered by who are not primary policy holders.

Benefit Package

Services covered by the insurance policy of a health plan that include physician visits, hospitalization, prescription drugs. The cost-sharing will be explained by the benefit package.

Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA)

Legislation enacted in 2000 that provided further relief to providers impacted by Balanced Budget Act (BBA).

Biological Drugs

Biological, or Biologic, drugs are those made by or from living organisms (i.e. gene therapy, vaccines, antibodies, stem cells); such drugs, and their generic forms, known as biosimilars or follow-on biologics, are regulated by the FDA.

Biopsy

Medical process of removing tissue for testing.

Biosimilar Biological Products

The generic version of more complicated medications.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

A digital record of health information of individual patients shared across health care settings. Also known as an Electronic Medical Record.