Concerned about executives' salaries and perks, the Senate Committee on Finance has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to investigate Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) for effectiveness and improprieties. (Medical News Today) The call for an investigation was likely prompted by the American Health Quality Association's request for more funding and broadened responsibilities. According to the Kaiser Network, CMS currently pays $300 million per year to … [Read more...] about Senate Committee Asks CMS to Investigate QIOs
Update: Medicare to Allow Spinal Disk Coverage
You may recall previous posts about Medicare's potential coverage of the artificial spinal disk Charite. As late as February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) wanted to deny coverage for the surgery. CMS allowed a 30-day comment period, and at the time, the chances of coverage didn't look promising. According to Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactures the disk, Medicare will allow its local medical directors to approve coverage for beneficiaries under 60. From the New York … [Read more...] about Update: Medicare to Allow Spinal Disk Coverage
Politicians Push to Eliminate Medicare Drug Penalty
The deadline to sign up for Medicare's prescription drug program has come and gone, but a bipartisan group of politicians is pushing to eliminate the late fee for beneficiaries who missed the deadline. The next open enrollment period begins in November. (Kaiser Network) Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt wants Congress to wait until final enrollment numbers are determined before passing the legislation. I agree. The proposed legislation would cost taxpayers $18 … [Read more...] about Politicians Push to Eliminate Medicare Drug Penalty
CMS Proposes Competitive Bidding for Durable Equipment
In a move designed to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries and save the money for the Medicare program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking to open up bidding for durable medical equipment. From the press release: "We intend to implement these DME competitive reforms to get savings for beneficiaries and taxpayers, while maintaining and improving quality," said CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "This is another way in which Medicare is … [Read more...] about CMS Proposes Competitive Bidding for Durable Equipment
GAO Report: Medicare Reps Give Bad Information
According to a new report (PDF) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), customer service representatives at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) often give inaccurate information to beneficiaries, and CMS documents are needlessly complicated, loaded with technical jargon. GAO investigators called CMS operators while posing as beneficiaries. According to the report's abstract, representatives gave correct responses 90 percent of the time when asked about eligibility. … [Read more...] about GAO Report: Medicare Reps Give Bad Information
Medicare Bankrupt By 2018?
According to the trustees who monitor Medicare and Social Security, the trust fund that supports Medicare will be out of money by 2018. The main reason appears to be rising health care costs. (Washington Post) Medicare and Social Security are funded through payroll taxes, so expect those to increase in the near future to compensate for higher costs. The bottom line is that beneficiaries probably will have to pay more out-of-pocket expenses. Before this bad news was reported, a study on … [Read more...] about Medicare Bankrupt By 2018?
CMS Nixes Medicare Deadline Extension
Leslie Norwalk, deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said unequivocally that extending the Medicare prescription drug program deadline is "legally not permissible." The deadline for enrolling in the program is May 15. Under exceptional circumstances, however, CMS allows additional time without penalty. From a Kaiser Network report: Under a new policy announced this month, CMS will allow "ongoing" enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug … [Read more...] about CMS Nixes Medicare Deadline Extension
New Jersey Democrats Ask For Medicare Drug Extension
As many of you may know, May 15 is the deadline for beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare's new prescription drug program. I've blogged about the controversial drug plan several times. According to some news stories, the plan is confusing to doctors, providers, and beneficiaries. According to others, beneficiaries aren't as confused about the plan as politicians claim. U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg (pictured) and Robert Menendez of New Jersey are calling for an extension of the May 15 deadline … [Read more...] about New Jersey Democrats Ask For Medicare Drug Extension
Should CMS Release Provider Quality Data?
The New York Times stated in a recent editorial that employers and Medicare beneficiaries should have access to information that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid keep on who the best doctors are at the most affordable rates, and reported that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) refuses to release the data. From the article (free registration required): The conflicting perspectives were described by Robert Pear in yesterday's Times. The Business Roundtable, which … [Read more...] about Should CMS Release Provider Quality Data?
Close Call for Medicare and Medicaid
For the time being, Medicare and Medicaid spending won't be cut. Although President George Bush proposed a $65 billion reduction in Medicaid, Medicare, and other mandatory programs, the Senate voted to exclude the provisions. Last week, the House Budget Committee also voted to exclude the cuts. As expected, both political parties are divided on the president's budget. From Medical News Today: The House resolution's entitlement savings are "well shy of what conservatives had sought, but … [Read more...] about Close Call for Medicare and Medicaid
