accreditation institutions or licensing authorities in the Selected Countries. (f) Payments (1) In general The Secretary shall make payments to or on behalf of Applicable Beneficiaries for the costs of health care items and services paid by Applicable Beneficiaries in Selected Countries. Such payments may include payments for individual items or services paid by Applicable Beneficiaries, payments for cost sharing incurred by Applicable Beneficiaries, and premiums and equivalent charges for health insurance coverage paid by Applicable Beneficiaries. Payments shall not include reimbursement for taxes levied on income for the purpose of funding health care. (2) Payment amounts The Secretary shall limit the amounts of payment to ensure such payments and funds expended to design, implement, and evaluate the Program do not exceed in the aggregate the amount the Secretary would pay under this title for equivalent services delivered in the United States. (3) No duplicate payment The Secretary shall make or permit payments under this paragraph only for a calendar month in which the Applicable Beneficiary resides in the Selected Country and does not incur any costs under this title other than the payment hereunder. (g) Role of medicare advantage (1) In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may administer the Program, either in part or exclusively, through Medicare Advantage Organizations. (2) To the extent Medicare Advantage Organizations carry out functions under the Program, payments made by such organizations under subsection (e) shall be considered as if they were benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service program option for purposes of sections 1852 and 1854 of this title, and a component of standard prescription drug coverage and not supplemental prescription drug coverage, under section 1860D2(a) of this title. (3) The Secretary may limit the number of Medicare Advantage Organizations participating in the Program, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary. (h) Reporting The Secretary