Senior Citizen Politics

Democrats, Republicans Trying To Sway Senior Citizens With Health Care Spin

Advocacy groups protest the presence of lobbyists at the gathering of state insurance regulators

Aug. 16, 2010 – Senior citizens (age 65 and older) – the most consistent voting age group - stands out, too, as the age group least pleased with the Obama Administration. One reason has been confusion over health care reform. All this has made them prime targets by both political parties for a barrage of “spin.”  Read more...

Andy Griffith Video Explaining Affordable Care Act Released Today as Medicare Turns 45

President Truman and wife Bess got first Medicare cards from President Johnson at bill signing in 1965

July 30, 2010 – It was in 1965 that a hard-fought battle to provide a healthcare safety net for senior citizens came to an end with President Lyndon B. Johnson signing Medicare into law. Today, Health and Human Services celebrates the 45^th anniversary of Medicare by introducing a new promotion videlo featuring Andy Griffith. Read more & watch video...

Most Senior Citizens Misinformed, Unaware of Key Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

National Council on Aging launches educational campaign after finding even among older adults who considered themselves familiar with the new law, correct answers were 'few and far between'

July 27, 2010 - A national survey of senior citizens - people aged 65 and older - for the National Council on Aging (NCOA) finds that most seniors are still confused or unaware of important aspects of health reform, or the Affordable Care Act, including its impact on their own Medicare coverage, the growth of Medicare, and the budget deficit. NCOA will launch national campaign to help older Americans better understand the new law and its impact on seniors. Read more...

Nursing Homes Get Pay Boost, But Home Health Care Agencies Takes Cut in New CMS Proposals

Home health services will get $900 million less, nursing homes $542 million more

July 19, 2010 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced pay changes for 2011 that will represent a 4.75 percent decrease for home health agencies (HHAs), but a 1.7 percent increase for nursing homes. CMS says the HHAs changes will promote efficiency in payments, implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and enhance program integrity. For nursing homes, it reflects changes in the prices of goods and services used to furnish covered care. Read more...

How House Calls May Help Frail Elderly is Tested in Medicare Demonstration Project

'Health care overhaul creates a three-year Medicare demonstration project to test the home visit concept on 10,000 of the sickest, most-expensive-to-treat Medicare enrollees'

Health Reform News & Information

Seven Health Care Changes You Might Have Missed, Some Impact Senior Citizens

For older people: expanded Medicaid, coordinated care for Medicare-Medicaid patients, help for employers to insure early retirees, FDA can approve cheaper drugs

By Mary Agnes Carey and Andrew Villegas
KHN Staff Writers

July 9, 2010 - You've probably heard that the new health overhaul law this year will provide an option for young adults to stay on their parents' health plans and set up insurance pools for people with pre-existing medical conditions who can't find insurance. But several lesser-known provisions also take effect in coming months that could have a lasting impact on the nation's health care system. Read more...

Medicare News

Researchers Cite Rapid Growth in Medicare Hospice Care, Suggest Change in Pay, Eligibility

Recommend changing rates of payment to reflect timing of the more intense care needs; tighter rules for determining hospice eligibility

July 9, 2010 – The length of care in an average Medicare-certified hospice program in U.S. nursing homes has doubled in the last 10 years, which seems to have led to a 50-percent growth in the number of hospices, primarily for-profit hospices. Currently, one-third of Medicare beneficiaries who die in nursing homes are accessing hospice services, and this new study predicts this number will increase. Read more...

Second Round of $250 Rebates in Mail to Latest Seniors to Fall into Medicare Donut Hole

‘First step in closing the prescription drug coverage gap under the Affordable Care Act’ - HHS Sec. Sebelius

July 8, 2010 – A second round of $250 rebate checks for senior citizens who have fallen into the Medicare Part D “donut hole” have hit the mail. More than 300,000 seniors will be receiving the tax-free, one-time rebate checks. Read more...

Medicare, Medicaid Get New Leader Through Recess Appointment by President Obama

Donald Berwick, professor and health care leader, appointment to CMS avoids GOP opposition

July 7, 2010 – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services got a new leader today. He is Donald Berwick, Harvard Medical School professor and president of the Institute for Health Care Improvement. President Barack Obama used a recess appointment to put Dr. Berwick in command of the health care agency, which has been without a permanent director for four years. Read more...

Medicare's Free Preventive Services Provisions Take Effect January 1 in Proposed New Rule

CMS issues rule to drop 20% cost sharing for hospital outpatient serves as part of health care reform legislation

July 6, 2010 - Senior citizens and others enrolled in Medicare will see a decline in their out-of-pocket costs for hospital outpatients services in next year if a role proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (health care reform). Read more...

Medicare Has Made Major Changes in Medigap Supplemental Insurance Program This Year

The easiest part of Medicare insurance to understand has just become more complicated: two new plans introduced, four plans no longer for sale, many changes in others

June 30, 2010 – Since the prescription drug program was added to Medicare, the program seems to many senior citizens to be in a constant state of change and increasingly complicated. Now, what has always been the most stable and least complicated part of Medicare – Medigap insurance – has undergone major changes. Effective June 1, new standard policies were introduced (M and N) and several old policies will no longer be sold (E, H, I, and J) and other policies were changed. Read more...

CMS Issues Proposed Rule to Implement New Medicare Services Added by Health Reform

Affordable Care Act expands preventive services, improves access to primary care in 2011

June 29, 2010 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule on Friday that would implement key provisions in the Affordable Care Act of 2010 that expand preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries, improve payments for primary care services, and promote access to health care services in rural areas.  Read more...

Congressional Action Provides Six-Month Doc Fix on Medicare Pay Cuts

Gives Docs temporary 2.2% raise, moves this issue passed the mid-term election period

June 29, 2010 - Last Friday, President Barack Obama signed a bill delaying the 21 percent cut in Medicare pay rates for physicians, after the House passed the bill Thursday night on a 417-1 vote. The Senate had passed the bill after separating it from a larger jobless benefits bill that had been blocked by Republicans. Read more...

‘Doc Fix’ Fight to Avoid Big Medicare Pay Cut for Docs is a Mushrooming Controversy

Political media sees fights between everyone and possible high cost for taxpayers and physicians

Jun 22, 2010 – The battle over the “doc fix” – the name now used for fixing the Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians – has been mostly between Democrats, who are trying to stop the 21 percent pay cut for doctors and end the annual crisis, and Republicans, who have mostly been saying “No.” But, according to a several media sources, the conflict is growing and could be costly to taxpayers, as well as doctors. Read more...

Last Minute Change of Heart by GOP Too Late to Save Physicians from Giant Medicare Pay Cut

Congress is playing Russian roulette with seniors’ health care,” said AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD

June 18, 2010 – After months of fighting back attempts by the Democrats to restore a gigantic 21.3 percent reduction in pay for doctors to treat Medicare patients, the Republicans relented early this afternoon and supported a six-month extension. It looked good for the doctors and senior citizens worried about their doctors leaving Medicare, but then hope and joy faded. Medicare had already begun processing payments at the reduced rate, which was actually effective on June 1. Read more...

Republicans Relent to Allow Another Six-Month Extensions of Medicare Pay Rate for Doctors

Docs who treat senior citizens in Medicare were facing 21% pay cut today; Republicans have repeatedly blocked Democratic effort to stop the pay reduction

June 18, 2010 – In a last minute move, the Republicans who have blocked all efforts by Democrats to stop a 21.3 percent Medicare pay cut for doctors, agreed to a six-month extension of current pay rates, after Democrats said the extension will not add to the federal deficit. Most Medicare and senior citizen advocates fear the pay cut will motivate many doctors to drop Medicare patients. Read more..

Republicans Again Say ‘No’ to Reducing Today's Huge Medicare Pay Cut for Physicians

The 21% cut becomes effective today without legislation; couple of compromises still alive

June 18, 2010 – Democrats in the Senate trimmed down the jobless benefits and state aid in the legislation that will also stop a 21 percent cut in what Medicare pays physicians but the effort was once again blocked by Republicans. The measure would protect doctors from a steep cut in Medicare rates scheduled to take effect today and extend emergency unemployment benefits that support more than 5 million people. Read more...

Republicans Again Block Democrats' Effort to Stop Huge Medicare Pay Cut for Doctors

Physicians say they are not making enough money on their existing Medicare patients and would be hesitant about accepting new ones

June 17, 2010 - A bill that would, among other things, extend some unemployment benefits and provide a temporary fix for Medicare physician payment rates languished in the Senate Wednesday as a procedural vote to end debate on the bill failed, 52 to 45 - eleven Democrats broke with the party to vote no. Read more...

Medicare Reduced Markups Physicians Charged to Give Chemo Drugs, Treatments Increased?

Chemotherapy treatment increased 2.4% after 2005 Medicare Modernization Act; use of more costly drugs increased, less expensive declined

June 17, 2010 – The mark-up many physicians were charging Medicare for chemotherapy drugs they administered was substantially reduced by the 2005 Medicare Modernization Act, which would leave must people to assume that such treatments would be reduced. Didn’t happen - a new study finds that the Act has actually increased chemotherapy treatment rates among Medicare recipients. Read more...

Only Days Left for Florida Seniors Served by Defunct Medicare Drug Plan to Join New One

Former Fox Insurance Company customers offered help from Florida Elder Affairs, 11 Area Agencies on Aging to meet June 30 deadline; seniors in other states should contact their SHIP

June 16, 2010 – Approximately 55,000 Floridians on Medicare have until June 30 to enroll in a new prescription insurance plan following the termination of their insurance provider. Enrollees of Fox Insurance Company will receive support from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging as they select their Part D prescription drug coverage. Read more...

Sen. Reid Moves to End Debate of Bill to Stop Annual Medicare Pay Cuts for Doctors

Most suggest he has the votes that can stop more physicians from dropping their senior citizen Medicare patients

June 15, 2010 – The permanent fix to the annual pay cuts for doctors for treating Medicare patients may be close to a solution. This year’s cut will be 21 percent if Democrats are not successful with new legislation. The American Medical Association says pay must be restored or many, many physicians will stop treating Medicare patients. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday filed a motion to stop debate on the bill that includes the pay fix and debate is underway. Read more...Watch Video

Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis

Medicare Advantage: You Get What You Pay For

‘Big changes to Medicare are coming, beginning with Medicare Advantage, the program that provides private insurance alternatives to traditional fee-for-service Medicare’

By Austin Frakt, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management
Boston University’s School of Public Health

June 15, 2010 - The Obama administration seems worried. In an election year, any change to Medicare that adversely affects beneficiaries is a political liability for incumbents. And big changes to Medicare are coming, beginning with Medicare Advantage, the program that provides private insurance alternatives to traditional fee-for-service Medicare, the program’s public option. Read more...

Medicare News

Rating System For Medicare Advantage Plans Slated For Upgrade as Stars Grow in Importance

Under the new health law, the star system will be used to award bonuses - chart shows % senior citizens in each state in star-rated plans

June 15, 2010 - About 47 million people are in Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly and disabled; nearly a quarter of them are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, offered by insurance companies as alternatives to the traditional program. The plans, which receive federal subsidies, offer Medicare's standard benefits plus extra benefits, often including prescription drug coverage. A few years ago, federal officials began rating these plans - using a scale of one to five stars - but seniors' advocates, policy analysts, insurers and some top Medicare officials agree the ratings are flawed. Read more...

Senior Citizen Alerts

Senior Citizen Politics

President Obama Speaks to Seniors, Answers Questions About Affordable Care Act

Complete text below of President’s remarks and answers to questions from senior citizens, also link to video of event

June 8, 2010 – President Barack Obama this week met with senior citizens at the Holiday Park Multipurpose Senior Center in Wheaton, Maryland, to discuss and answer questions about how the Affordable Care Act will effect seniors and their health care. The complete text of his remarks and the Q & A are below. Read more....watch video

Infection Control Practices Found Lacking at Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Centers

‘This risk is not acceptable and must be corrected immediately and definitively,’ declares JAMA editorial. HHS Sec responds (below study report)

June 8, 2010 - An assessment of nearly 70 ambulatory surgical centers serving Medicare patients in three states found that lapses in infection control were common, including for practices such as hand hygiene, injection and medication safety and equipment reprocessing, according to a study in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Fraud Prevention Campaign Targets Medicare Beneficiaries as Donut Hole Rebates Hit Mail

Seniors in donut hold to start receiving $250 rebate checks this week

June 8, 2010 – As senior citizens who have dropped into the donut hole of Medicare Part D start receiving their $250 rebate checks this week, a new program is bring launched to ensure that seniors have the information they need to protect themselves from potential scams or fraud when it comes to their Medicare benefits. Read more...hear radio commercials

Senior Citizen Politics

AMA Predicts ‘Medicare Meltdown’ as Senate Fails to Stop 21% Pay Cut for Doctors

Physicians launch multi-million dollar ad campaign stressing loss of care for seniors, military retirees

June 3, 2010 - The U.S. Senate’s failure to act before a June 1 deadline to avoid a 21 percent Medicare physician pay cut has put seniors’ health care at grave risk, according to the American Medical Association, which launched a new media campaign today. A new AMA survey shows that many physicians are already limiting the number of Medicare patients they treat. Read more...See video

Medicare News

Senior Citizens Now Receiving Medicare Brochure Explaining New Affordable Care Act

Highlights of brochure and links to English and Spanish versions online are below news report

May 27, 2010 – Senior citizens and others covered by Medicare should be receiving within days the new brochure "Medicare and the New Health Law - What it Means for You" in their mailboxes. The mailing from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services outlines the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The information is available in English or Spanish and online (see links below news story). Read more...

Medicare Starts Effort to Educate Senior Citizens on Benefits of Affordable Care Act

One of first benefits will be $250 for those who fall into drug program’s donut hole

May 25, 2010 – Senior citizens and others in Medicare will soon be receiving important information about the immediate benefits they may see from the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. The most welcome news for millions of seniors that fall into the Part D drug program’s donut hole is that they will receive a $250 check due to a provision in the new law. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Medicare Moves on 2011 Reform Action Giving 50% Drug Discount  to Seniors in Donut Hole

Agreements with drug manufacturers represents an unprecedented partnership to help millions of Medicare beneficiaries

May 25, 2010 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance to Part D plan sponsors to guarantee that senior citizens and other Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D prescription drug plans will see 50 percent savings on their brand name and some authorized generic drugs when they enter the coverage gap, or donut hole, during 2011. Read more...

Home Health Care Agencies Prove Efficient in Caring for Medicare Patients

CMS sharing $15 million in savings with top performing agencies in demonstration project

May 10, 2010 – Home health care agencies caring for Medicare patients in a demonstration project by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has drawn high praise from the agency for the savings they produced for Medicare. The 166 agencies (HHAs) are also being rewarded, based on their individual performance, with a share of the $15 million in savings. Read more...

Medicare Doctor Pay 'Fix' Deadline Looming - Again

‘For the third time this year, Congress has just days to avert a scheduled 21 percent cut in pay to doctors who treat seniors…’

By Julie Rovner, NPR News

May 6, 2010 - Call it Medicare's version of Groundhog Day. For the third time this year, Congress has just days to avert a scheduled 21 percent cut in pay to doctors who treat seniors and others on the Medicare program. And while just about everyone agrees a cut of that magnitude would be devastating for Medicare and the patients it serves, no one seems to be able to figure out how to solve the problem in anything except a stopgap way. Read more...

Growing Use of Imaging Diagnostics for Medicare Patients with Cancer Drives Up Costs

Cancer-related expenditures are expected to increase faster than any other area of health care

April 30, 2010 - From 1999 through 2006 the use of diagnostic imaging for Medicare patients with cancer increased, with the use of positron emission tomography (PET) leading the parade, according to a study in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Imaging costs for these patients also increased, outpacing the rate of increase in total costs among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. Read more...

Majority of Those in Medicare Advantage Not Enrolled in Top Ranked Plans

Only 0.3% of MA enrollees are in a ‘5’ star, or top-rated, plan; starting in 2012, plans’ payments will be tied to their scores

April 29, 2010 - The majority of people in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program are currently not enrolled in the highest-quality plans, despite the existence of a star rating system that assesses quality for MA plans, says a new analysis released by Avalere Health. Read more...

Senior Citizen Politics

Democrats Successful in Stopping Big Cut in Medicare Pay for Physicians

Bill passed with help of only three Republicans, signed by President last night

April 16, 2010 – Senior citizens can take their annual sigh of relief that a Medicare pay cut for physicians has once again been avoided. The giant pay cut – over 21 percent – had the potential of causing many doctors to no longer care for Medicare patients. The bill stopping this year’s pay cut was signed by President Barack Obama last night after Democrats won a hard fought battle with Republicans. Three Republican senators did vote with the winning Democrats. Read more...

Senior Citizen Politics

Doctors Face 21% Medicare, TRICARE Pay Cut Tomorrow Without Congressional Action

Many physicians expected to no longer treat Medicare, TRICARE patents at lowered pay rate

April 14, 2010 – April 15 is a costly deadline for many Americans filing their taxes on deadline day. But it could even be more costly to many doctors facing a 21 percent pay cut from Medicare if Congress does not act immediately. Efforts by Democrats to fix this glitch in regulations that make the pay cut mandatory have been blocked by Republicans. Seniors and patients in TRICARE, too, could be big losers, as it is considered certain many physicians will no longer accept Medicare or TRICARE patients if this pay cut is finalized. Read more...

Medicare News

Medicare Slams Door on Enrollment and Marketing of Aetna’s Drug and Advantage Plans

CMS says Aetna has failed to fully meet its obligations to Medicare beneficiaries

April 9, 2010 – Last Monday, April 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services privately notified Aetna Insurance Company of its intent to impose an intermediate sanction to prevent Aetna from marketing to and enrolling new beneficiaries in its Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan. Today, Aetna announced is it will cease enrollment and marketing due to the CMS action. Read more...

CMS Regulations Attempt to Curb Discriminatory Cost Sharing: Make Plans Easier to Compare

Requires Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan sponsors to have meaningful differences between their product offerings

April 6, 2010 - Senior citizens and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans will see improved protections from discriminatory cost sharing and be able to better compare plans in 2011 under a final regulation issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), according to a news release by the agency. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Female Senior Citizens with Dementia or Diabetes Most Likely to Fall into Donut Hole

Records of over 287,000 Medicare beneficiaries show 16% falling into donut hole or Medicare drug coverage gap, and only 7% ever get out

March 30, 2010 - If you’re older, a woman, and suffering from either dementia or diabetes, you are the most likely to be exposed to unsubsidized medication costs in the US. This is known as the coverage gap or donut hole for enrollees of Medicare Part D – the federal program which subsidizes the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. Read more...

Social Security News

Baby Boomers Can Now Apply for Medicare Online at Social Security Website

Cast of Patty Duke Show helping agency responsible for Social Security & Medicare enrollment

March 29, 2010 – The millions of baby boomers flooding across the age marker that signals they are a senior citizens – the age of 65 – will be pleased with news from Social Security that you can now register for Medicare benefits online, if you are not ready to also sign up for Social Security. Patty Duke and the cast of her 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, are helping spread the word. Read more...

President to Nominate Internationally Respected Quality Health Care Advocate to Head CMS

Dr. Donald M. Berwick has repeatedly challenged doctors and hospitals to provide better care at a lower cost; may soon run Medicare, Medicaid

March 29, 2010 - President Barack Obama is poised to nominate Dr. Donald M. Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that serve virtually all of the senior citizens in the United States that are not on Tricare, the public health insurance program for retired military personnel and their families. Dr. Berwick is well-known throughout the world for his determined efforts to improve healthcare. Read more...

Medicare Now Covers Facial Injections for HIV Victims Suffering from Treatment

A localized loss of fat from the face, causing an excessively thin appearance in the cheeks, is called facial lipodystrophy (LDS)

March 24, 2010 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday announced its decision to cover facial injections for Medicare beneficiaries who experience symptoms of depression due to the stigmatizing appearance of severely hollowed cheeks resulting from the drug treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  The decision was effective immediately. Read more...

Medicare Steps Up Efforts To Monitor Seniors' Prescriptions

Insurance company representatives - in most cases, pharmacists - must ask heavy drug users in Medicare about their medications and side effects.

By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News

March 23, 2010 - Irene Mooney survived four heart attacks and still copes with high cholesterol, persistent indigestion and heart problems. Recently, she developed some dangerous new symptoms — suspicious bruising all over her body and severe fatigue. “I could barely put one foot in front of the other,” she says. A pharmacist discovered the culprit: Some of the very medications Mooney was taking to manage her medical conditions. Read more...

Senior Citizen Politics

Health Reform Bill Passage Hailed by Senior Citizen Advocates for Its Benefits for Seniors

Seniors laud plugging ‘donut hole’, paying for more Medicare preventive services

March 22, 2010 – Virtually all the groups that represent or advocate for seniors citizens expressed their satisfaction that the Health Reform Bill was passed Sunday by the House of Representatives and pointed out specific benefits for seniors. Joining them in expressing thanks to the Democratic congressman who passed was the American Medical Association, a key group among the hundreds that backed the legislation. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Fox Kicked Out of Medicare Drug Program; Seniors with Fox Need to Choose New Plan

Senior citizens in 21 states enrolled in the Fox plan will be provided access to drugs; need to choose new Medicare prescription drug plan by May 1

March 11, 2010 – Fox Insurance Company of New York this week became the first insurance company to be terminated from the Medicare prescription drug program (Part D). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said the company was “not meeting Medicare’s requirements to provide enrollees with prescription drugs according to recognized standards of care,” and this “jeopardized the health and safety of Fox enrollees.” Fox operates in 21 states (list in story). Read more...

Medicare News

Last Chance to Change Medicare Health Plans for 2010: Window Closes March 31

Medicare Rights Center says seniors should know Medicare private health plan will not work with a supplemental ‘Medigap’ plan as with Original Medicare

March 5, 2010 – Senior citizens have one last chance to change their Medicare health plan before they are locked into their plan for the rest of 2010. During the Open Enrollment Period, January 1 and through March 31, people with Medicare are allowed to change their choice of Medicare health coverage once, according to the Medicare Rights Center. Read more...see video

Annual Fight in Washington Over Mandated Medicare Cuts in Doctors’ Pay Started in 1965

National Public Radio reporters explain the history on All Things Considered

March 4, 2010 – The legislatively mandated cut in Medicare’s pay to physicians of 21.2 percent has been delayed until at least April 1 by a bill passed by the Democrats late Tuesday and signed by President Obama. Senior citizens scratch their heads trying to understand this annual dance in Washington – doctors face an annual reduction in Medicare pay, they threaten to stop treating seniors and Congress stops the pay cut. Read more...

Medicare’s Mandated 21% Cut of Pay for Physicians is Delayed Until April 1

Senate Democrats push through the bill late Tuesday, President Obama signs it

March 4, 2010 – The newspaper for members of the American Medical Association reported yesterday that late Tuesday night Senate Democrats “were able to overcome a procedural roadblock that led to an unprecedented 21% cut in Medicare physician pay taking effect the day before. But the development bought Congress only about a month to approve a longer-term solution before the reduction comes back.” Read more...

Senior Citizens, Military Families May Find Doctors Refusing Service as Medicare Pay Shrinks 21%

Military families are also hurt by March 1 reduction as TRICARE ties its payment rates to Medicare

March 2, 2010 - The U.S. Senate’s failure to act before the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut went into effect yesterday has put seniors at grave risk of reduced access to health care and choice of physician, according a news release from the American Medical Association. Read more...

Senior Citizen Alerts

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens Do Best in Specialized Orthopedic Surgical Care: Medicare Study

Specialized hospitals have fewer serious post-surgical complications ( blood clots, infections and heart problems) or deaths

Feb. 15, 2010 - The more specialized a hospital is in orthopedic surgical care, the better the outcomes appear to be for senior citizen patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery, University of Iowa researchers report in a new study of Medicare patients. Read more...

Medicare News

Medicare Pays Doctors More for Bladder Biopsies in Office; Dramatic Increase Occurs?

Medicare’s hope was to save money by escaping hospital costs but it has opposite effect

Feb. 8, 2010 - Increased Medicare payments to physicians for outpatient surgeries for bladder cancer have led to a dramatic rise in the number of these procedures being performed and an overall increase in cost to the healthcare system. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The findings indicate that some Medicare policies aimed at decreasing costs may instead be contributing to an increase in healthcare expenditures. Read more...

Senior, Physician, Military Groups Urge Fix to Medicare’s Annual Crisis in Physician Pay

Almost yearly physician’s face mandated cut in pay that is then reversed by Congress

Jan. 25, 2010 - Focusing on looming Medicare physician cuts of 21 percent scheduled to begin on March 1, the American Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) have joined together in an “unprecedented” multi-state event to urge a lasting fix to this annual crisis. Read more...

Medicare’s Coverage of Bariatric Surgery at Certified Facilities Improved Results

Patients benefited from shorter length of stay, lower complication rates, no significant change in hospital mortality rates

>> Second study finds morbidly obese live longer with gastric bypass (see below first story)

Jan. 18, 2010 – When Medicare decided to approve coverage for bariatric weight-loss surgery, the agency also established a requirement that senior citizens could only be treated at certified institutions. The results have been better results and more minimally invasive procedures, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Chubby Checker Making Senior Citizens Aware It’s Easier to Get Help Paying for Medicare Drugs

The old twister joins Social Security in announcing new “twist” in law making it easier to qualify for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs

Jan. 11, 2010 - The Social Security Administration says there is a “new twist” that makes it easier for senior citizens to qualify for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs, and they have the old twister – Chubby Checker – helping to spread the word. Read more, see video...

Medicare News

Health Care Spending at Historical Low Rate but Still Grows Faster that U.S. Economy

‘Health care spending as a percentage of GDP is rising at an unsustainable rate’

Jan. 5, 2010 – Health spending in the U.S. grew 4.4 percent in 2008 – the slowest growth rate since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started officially tracking expenditures in 1960 – but a rate still much higher that the economic growth rate for the national economy as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was just 2.6 percent. Health spending grew to $2.3 trillion or $7,681 per person. Read more...