The Bruin Health Plan is a Social Health Maintenance Organization (SHMO).

Must provide Medicare participants with standard HMO benefits, as well as with limited long-term care benefits

Does not need as great a variety of provider types or as complex a reimbursement method as does a traditional HMO

Receives a payment that is based on reasonable costs and reasonable charges

Most likely provides fewer supportive services than does a traditional HMO, because one of Bruin's goals is to minimize the use of community-based care