Medicare

Doctors ascendent, health insurance plans not so much

admin_huliq — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:08:10 -0500

It's over, done, finished. For a few months, anyway. With the overwhelming Congressional vote to override Pres Bush's veto of the Medicare bill (keeping physician reimbursement levels and cutting subsidies for health plans' Medicare Advantage and Private Fee For Service), the pols can now move on to other issues.

Senate Votes to Override Bush's Medicare Veto of HR-6331

admin_huliq — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:07:32 -0500

The following is a statement by R Scott Ward, PT, PhD, President, American Physical Therapy Association on the Senate vote overriding Bushs Medicare Veto:

The Next Medicare Physician Fee Cut - 17 Months, 20 Days

admin_huliq — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:42:56 -0500

The "Medical Home" - A real Solution? Now that this year's fight over Medicare physician fees is all but over, it is important to turn to real solutions.

Regulators Dodged One Bullet on Medicare

admin_huliq — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:46:36 -0500

The Medicare vote to rescind the 10% cut in physician reimbursement likely kept many docs in the business of providing medical care to workers comp patients.

Hopeful Changes in Medicare Bill

admin_huliq — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:31:15 -0500

It is sad that the majority of Republicans want to keep giving private health insuance companies special financial treatment when low-income patients that use Medicare and those without health insurance are suffering so much.

Dems Unable To Cut Private Medicare Advantage Payments

admin_huliq — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:19:26 -0500

Congressional Democrats tried to take a big bite out of private Medicare this past week in an attempt to pay for an 18 month fix to the upcoming July 1st 10.6% reduction in Medicare physician payments.

CMS To Test Personal Health Records for Medicare Beneficiaries

admin_huliq — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:55:15 -0500

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new project that expands its efforts to encourage beneficiaries covered by traditional Medicare to take advantage of Internet-based resources to track their health care services and better communicate with their providers.

ACP says Medicare cuts will hurt physicians in small practices

harminka — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:57:16 -0500

Noting that many physicians across the country who lead small practices are at a business breaking point, David M. Dale, MD, FACP, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP) testified today before the House Small Business Committee. Dr. Dale emphasized that practices are medicine’s small businesses, where much of their revenue is tied directly to Medicare’s flawed reimbursement rates and formulas.

More Doctors Investigated Over Suspected Medicare Rorts

admin_huliq — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:34:13 -0500

Health authorities have expressed alarm at an increase in the number of doctors being investigated over suspected Medicare rorts.

Higher Medicare spending yields mixed bag for patients

harminka — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:59:21 -0600

Many recent studies have found that Medicare spending across the country varies greatly. But despite these spending differences, aggregate health outcomes tend to be the same no matter which region a person lives in. Because of this, some policy makers have determined that there is no value to the excess costs in high-spending areas.

Medicare Reforms Hospital Services Payments

admin_huliq — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:07:59 -0500

Medicare reforms continue transition to more accurate hospital services payment system - promote quality care for all hospitalized patients.

Children’s Health Insurance Program funding levels too low

harminka — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:44:58 -0500

The chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP) today commended Senate Finance Committee Leaders for working on a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) but expressed concern that funding levels are too low and that pending Medicare cuts are not addressed.