Medicare News

When former President Obama introduced the Affordable Health Act (ACA), he completely changed the way health insurance was sold and administered in the United States. The ACA brought health insurance to millions who didn’t have it before while making it easier for people with pre-existing conditions to get the coverage they needed. Not only did Obama create a whole new

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a long list of changes for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) that are intended to streamline certain systems and encourage quality health care by hospitals and their off-campus affiliate locations. Changes deal primarily with streamlining billing processes, creating more transparency for the patient and increasing compensation for hospitals

In 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program to allow more competition in the pricing of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). It’s a tool designed to help taxpayers and beneficiaries access the best quality equipment at the most reasonable prices. Round 1 of 2017 contract suppliers’ bids for

The 2016 presidential race has put an incredible amount of focus on what to do with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite discrepancies on costs and the stability of insurance markets, the health reform law has successfully lowered the uninsured rate. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation , most Americans believe modifications to the ACA over time are necessary and

Medicare patients could save thousands of dollars thanks to a new law passed last year. The Notice Act, a bipartisan law signed in 2015, requires medical providers to alert Medicare patients when they get placed into observation status. The law is designed to protect seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries who get treated at a hospital without being admitted. Placing patients

More than half of the nation’s hospitals will face a reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates for 2016 under the terms of the federal Readmissions Reduction Program. This figure is about the same as it was last year, but penalties have increased. Nearly 2,600 hospitals will face penalties this year totaling $528 million. Penalties take effect in October and run through

Proposed changes to Medicare Part B drug payments could provide beneficiaries with better drug options and lower costs in the future – but not everyone is happy with the changes. As prescription drug costs continue to soar from year to year, the government is looking at ways to cut expenses, particularly for Medicare enrollees. As it stands, Part B spends

A sweep of Medicare fraud nationwide has resulted in the largest takedown of criminal activity in the program’s history. According to the Department of Justice on Wednesday, 300 people have been indicted in various schemes resulting in approximately $900 million worth of fraudulent billing. About half of these schemes involved home health fraud. Bilking federal programs out of money has

The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for both Medicare Advantage (private plans) and Part D (prescription drug) Plans began on Oct. 15. Through Dec. 7, more than 39 million PDP enrollees have the opportunity – and responsibility – to purchase prescription drug coverage. And it’s important to carefully research and select the policy that provides the best features and pricing for