Final answer:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allows the PFFS plan to decide if balance billing is permitted.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the question, the PFFS plan refers to the Private Fee-for-Service plan, which is a type of Medicare Advantage plan. The decision on whether balance billing is permitted in a PFFS plan is made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency that administers the Medicare program. Balance billing refers to the practice of charging patients for the difference between what the health care provider charges and what the Medicare plan pays.
Under the Medicare program, providers who participate in the PFFS plans are required to follow certain billing guidelines set by CMS. While PFFS plans can give providers flexibility in terms of reimbursement rates and other payment policies, balance billing is generally not allowed in PFFS plans. Providers must accept the plan's payment as full payment for covered services.
It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to review the terms and conditions of their specific PFFS plan to understand the coverage and billing policies.