Legal Glossaries

Malfeasance: Commission of a wrongful act; evil doing; wrongful conduct.

Malnourished: Suffering from malnutrition.

Malnutrition: A serious health problem caused by poor nutrition due to an insufficient or poorly balanced diet.

Manipulation: This occurs when one person deviously influences another for his or her own advantage.

Material Fact: Generally, a fact essential to a case or a defense without which said case or defense could not be supported.

Medicaid: A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for many low-income people. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but if you qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare, most health-care costs are covered.

Medically Necessary: Health-care services and supplies are medically necessary when they are proper and necessary to diagnose and/or treat a medical condition and not merely used for the convenience of the physician or the patient.

Medicare: A federal health insurance program for persons 65 or older. Medicare also covers some people under 65 who suffer from certain disabilities as well as people with End-Stage Renal Disease

Medicare Managed Care Plan: A plan permitting you to go to specific doctors, specialists, and hospitals on the plan's list. Medicare Managed Care Plans must cover all Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) health care. The plan may or may not cover extras, like prescriptions.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Medicare Part A pays for in-patient hospital stays, skilled nursing home care, home health care, and hospice care.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): Medicare Part B pays for doctor's services, out-patient hospital care, and other services not covered by Medicare Part A.

Medigap: A Medicare supplemental health insurance policy offered by private insurance companies that fills the gaps in the original Medicare plan.

Misfeasance: Improper performance of a lawful act.