The Right Medicare Drug Plan Can Help Control Price Shocks
Drug plans offered by private insurers under Medicare change from year to year. It pays to check around for the best deal during open enrollment season.
Medicare
Telemedicine Expands, Though Financial Prospects Still Uncertain
With apps and video chats now a part of many people's days, some firms and hospitals see big potential for health care delivered remotely. But a lot of insurers still aren't willing to pay for it.
Medicare Fails To Save Money So Far On Cooperative Care Experiment
Health care practitioners who band together can earn Medicare bonuses by saving money. Most of the groups decline potentially richer deals that include penalties for excessive spending.
Medicare Provides Few Respite Coverage Options For Caregivers
Medicare generally covers respite care only when a beneficiary is in hospice, although some special needs Medicare Advantage plans may be of help.
White House Takes Aim At Medicare And Medicaid Billing Errors
Improper payments by Medicare and Medicaid are wasting billions of dollars a year, the White House budget director said. He called for urgent corrective action in a letter that is now public.
Medicare Says Doctors Should Get Paid To Discuss End-Of-Life Issues
After a six-year delay, Medicare proposes to reimburse doctors who hold end-of-life discussions with Medicare patients. The federal program is now soliciting public comments on the idea.
Meet The California Family That Has Made Health Policy Its Business
On Medicare's 50th birthday, two brothers who helped get it off the ground tell their stories. A younger member of the Lee family is at the helm of Covered California, the state insurance exchange.
Happy 50th Birthday, Medicare. Your Patients Are Getting Healthier
The past 15 years have seen a drop in deaths and hospitalizations among Medicare patients — people 65 and older. Teasing out why is tricky, but it seems a good trend for the 50-year-old program.
Progress For Bill To Bolster Medicare Patients' Hospital Rights
Even when some Medicare patients stay overnight in the hospital, they are are being classified as outpatients under something called observation status. It sounds innocuous but can trigger big bills.
Experiment In Coordinated Care For Medicare Failed To Show Savings
The test aimed to help high-risk Medicare patients navigate the health care maze. But after three years, expected improvements in quality and savings failed to materialize.