Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service organization, issued a statement related to Medicare's new prescription drug program. An excerpt: Less than five percent of people who could voluntarily choose a prescription drug plan have done so (see calculations below). People with Medicare are frustrated and bewildered about a program that is needlessly complex and unreliable. The reasons for these appalling enrollment numbers are self-evident. … [Read more...] about ‘People with Medicare are frustrated and bewildered…’
Drugs Excluded from Medicare Part D
The blogger over at Over! My! Med! Body! is a third year medical student. His blog is very informative about Health Care policies. He recently posted an article that will answer questions you may have about why some medications seem to be missing from the Medicare Drug Calculator. He obtained the following information from a Medicare patient advocate: In your tutorial, you mention that you have questions with the "Enter My Medications" section. First, the Federal legislation … [Read more...] about Drugs Excluded from Medicare Part D
‘It might as well be in Chinese.’
Medicare's new prescription drug plan is causing more headaches. Many beneficiaries don't understand it, and doctors say it's "unrealistic" for them to bear the burden of explaining it. From the Associated Press: Millions of senior citizens will become eligible for the benefit Jan. 1, but many don't know whether it will save them money, or which private insurance plan they should choose among the dozens that have bombarded their mailboxes with ads in recent months. Many don't know how … [Read more...] about ‘It might as well be in Chinese.’
Decisions for 41 Million
Medicare's new prescription drug program goes into effect in less that two weeks, and pharmacies and nursing homes are making preparations. About 41 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries will get to select plans that will cover part of the prescription drug costs. As I've written before, long term care providers are concerned that elderly patients, many of whom have cognitive problems, may not have the ability to make informed choices about coverage. "None of the residents in my facility … [Read more...] about Decisions for 41 Million
2006 Budget Negotiations Continue
Budget negotiations are getting a lot of press, and for good reason. At issue this week is a 1 percent increase in Medicare reimbursement for doctors, and lawmakers are still trying to reach an agreement on Medicare cuts. Meanwhile, doctors and beneficiaries have expressed confusion over Medicare's new prescription drug program, and patients' rights groups have threatened to sue the federal government. President George Bush, however, says the program is a "good deal." From USA … [Read more...] about 2006 Budget Negotiations Continue
MedPAC Opts For No Inflation Adjustment
Just as Medicare funds are being cut in the 2006 budget, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended that Medicare receive no inflation adjustment in 2007. The American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care have both criticized MedPAC's recommendation: "As many public policymakers recognize, the most prudent way to maintain sustained improvements in nursing home care quality is to ensure long term care funding stability," said … [Read more...] about MedPAC Opts For No Inflation Adjustment
CMS To Automatically Enroll Six Million Dual Eligibles
More Medicare prescription drug program controversy! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will automatically enroll six million U.S. residents eligible for Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug plans who have not selected a plan by January 1, 2006. Dual eligibles not automatically enrolled will still be allowed to fill prescriptions at pharmacies. Consumer groups are concerned about beneficiaries' rights. They've sued the federal government, alleging that "CMS has failed … [Read more...] about CMS To Automatically Enroll Six Million Dual Eligibles
Clostridium difficile –Some Important Information from MedSleuth
MedSleuth makes some important points about C-Diff and you should all take note of this: Two facts about Clostridium difficile are of increasing concern. First, it is becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, and second, it is being discovered in otherwise healthy individuals who have neither been hospitalized nor been on antibiotics . MedSleuth goes on to quote some other important facts: In another article in the New England Journal of Medicine, health officials said … [Read more...] about Clostridium difficile –Some Important Information from MedSleuth
New Regulations for Critical Access Hospitals
Last month the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo to state survey agency directors that will affect certain providers. The memo (PDF) contains information about changes to statutory requirements for critical access hospitals (CAH). Instead of paraphrasing, I'll quote from the memo: The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), enacted on December 8, 2003, contained a number of modifications to the CAH statutory requirements … [Read more...] about New Regulations for Critical Access Hospitals
Long Term Care Providers and Foreign Drugs
It goes without saying that long term care providers are allowed to administer drugs to patients, and extra care is required when acquiring, receiving, dispensing and administering foreign prescription drugs. The attached letter (PDF) instructs state survey agency directors on what to do when providers administer foreign drugs. Foreign drugs that purport to be the same as Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs may be substandard and/or dangerous. Providers must make sure that foreign … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Providers and Foreign Drugs
