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Category Archives: Senior Health Plans
FLEXIBILITY FOR MA PLANS
Executive order on Medicare calls for flexibility for MA plans
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing HHS to develop regulations that will allow Medicare Advantage plans to offer new plan designs to incentivize value, expand use of telehealth in Medicare and align payments for fee-for-service Medicare with those for MA and commercial plans, among other measures. Speaking at a Florida retirement community, Trump said proposals from some Democrats to expand Medicare to all Americans would destroy the existing program, take away choice and hurt current beneficiaries.
Reuters (10/3), Healthcare Finance (10/3)
Legislation Proposed to End Surprise Medical Bills
Senators unveil revised legislation to end surprise medical bills
Senate Health Committee Chair Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and ranking member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., have released a revised version of their health care legislative package with new provisions meant to protect patients against unexpected medical bills. The Lower Health Care Costs Act, released ahead of the expected health committee markup next week, would create a benchmark for health insurer-provider payment disputes, prohibit out-of-network deductibles during emergencies, and limit patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for air ambulance transport.
Becker’s Hospital Review (6/19), The Hill (6/19)
New Medicare Cards – April 1 2018
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Drug Transparency Bill – Calfornia
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Push to Expand Medicare Benefits
Legislation to cover dental, vision and hearing care under Medicare is being floated by Democratic members of Congress. Dan Adcock of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said adding benefits would be expensive but would ultimately save the government money by reducing serious health problems associated with a lack of these types of care.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF POLITICIANS HAD TO BE COVERED WITH OUR CURRENT HEALTH pLAN
If President Trump were to issue an executive order resending the exemption for Politicians from the Affordable Care Act (ACA “ObamacareP}, how quickly do you think the Congress and/or Senate would come up with something workable? Or do you think they could live with the same coverage you live with?
EpiPen – $465 Million Settlement
The New York Times (free-article access for SmartBrief readers) (10/7)
ALERT! Medicare will not pay for hospitalization designated as “For Observation”.
Medicare will not longer pay for hospital stay for observation only. If your doctor want to admit you insist that in be “For Treatment”
Go to www.medicareadvocacy.org for additional information.
Medicare Premiums not expected to increase until 2016
Medicare premiums will stay the same in 2015, the third-straight year with no increase. Experts attribute the slowdown in Medicare spending to the sluggish economy, and they say that without changes in the health care system, Medicare price inflation will resume as the economy improves. Reuters (8/7)