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Medicare Part B
Practical Law Glossary Item w-026-3053 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Medicare Part B
The part of Medicare that provides coverage for outpatient services (42 U.S.C. ch. 7, subch. XVIII, pt. B). Medicare Part B along with Medicare Part A is known as Original Medicare. Anyone eligible for Medicare Part A is automatically eligible to be enrolled in Part B. Medicare Part B is optional for Medicare beneficiaries but requires a premium to obtain the benefits.
Medicare Part B covers:
- Physician services.
- Services provided by Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics.
- Diagnostic services, including laboratory, x-ray, and other diagnostic tests.
- Non-physician practitioner services.
- Medical supplies, appliances, and devices.
- Screening mammography.
- Ambulance services.
- Outpatient therapy services, including physical therapy and speech pathology.
- Part B drugs, including pneumococcal vaccinations, hepatitis B vaccinations, and blood clotting factors for hemophilia patients.
- Outpatient hospital services (including outpatient surgical services).
- Durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).
- Dialysis services.
For more information, see Practice Note, Health Care Payors and Reimbursement: Overview: Medicare Part B.