Medicare News

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

If you’re new to Medicare or you know someone who’s about to enroll, then you might not know that Medicare has enrollment periods. Aside from the initial signup window – which lasts for seven months starting three months before you turn 65 – there are periods throughout the year during which you can sign up for certain parts, like Medicare

It’s only been six years since the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, effectively changed the landscape of modern American health care, including the rules and regulations surrounding Medicare. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for scammers to develop new ways of deceiving Medicare enrollees. Medicare Advantage, Medigap and other supplementary plans are especially vulnerable to attack. In 2016, Medicare

On October 21, 2016, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) released a list of insurance companies on the federal health insurance marketplace that went almost unnoticed. We know that the list went almost unnoticed because complaints regarding the purpose of the list are on the rise all over the country, and it seems as though the CMS is

Have questions about what Medigap plans are? Medigap is a health insurance plan that is sold by a private health insurance provider to supplement Medicare coverage. Medigap is also known as Medicare Supplement (or Supplemental) Insurance. It helps you pay for health insurance expenses that Medicare does not cover. These are essentially “gaps” in Medicare coverage. Medigap’s name originated from

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

The future of Medicare is one of several key issues in the upcoming presidential election this year, but it’s also one of the least discussed among the candidates. Despite ongoing debate over the American health care system in general, little has been said regarding Medicare. About 55 million people received Medicare benefits in 2015, a number that will climb as

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