05/17/2012
In early 2013, California's skilled nursing facilities could face Medicare payment cuts totaling $75.9 million -- the largest amount of cuts among all states -- if Congress fails to overcome an ongoing budget stalemate, according to a recent study commissioned by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care. Those cuts would come on top of a state proposal to rescind a recent payment hike to close California's $16 billion budget deficit. Payers & Providers.
05/17/2012
The Senate voted down five different Republican-backed fiscal year 2013 budget resolutions yesterday. Lawmakers noted that Congress is unlikely to approve any budget proposals that include changes to Medicare and Medicaid until 2013. The Hill's "Floor Action Blog" et al.
05/15/2012
In recent months, President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney have tried to differentiate their plans to reform Medicare. The two also have accused each other of supporting plans that would effectively dismantle the program. New York Times.
05/14/2012
Five out of the top 10 hospitals where patients cost Medicare the most money are located in California, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of data published on the CMS Hospital Compare website. Kaiser Health News' "Capsules."
05/11/2012
Yesterday, HHS released two final rules designed to eliminate unnecessary, outdated and duplicative regulations on health care providers. Federal officials estimate that the changes would generate more than $5 billion in savings over five years. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.
05/07/2012
Minority and low-income seniors account for a substantial portion of individuals who are benefiting under Medicare Advantage plans, according to a recent report by America's Health Insurance Plans. The federal health reform law calls for more than $200 billion in spending cuts for the plans. Modern Healthcare.
05/03/2012
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 100 medical professionals across the U.S. with defrauding Medicare of $452 million. Eight of those individuals are located in the Los Angeles area and are accused of bilking Medicare of $20 million. Payers & Providers, Los Angeles Times.
05/03/2012
According to the Obama administration, Medicare could face payment disruptions if the Supreme Court strikes down the health reform law. Former CMS administrators Don Berwick and Tom Scully disagree on how the ruling would affect payments. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
05/02/2012
On Monday, CMS released new data showing that Medicare beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2012 spent an average of $837 less on prescription drugs because of the federal health reform law. According to the data, beneficiaries have spent $3.4 billion less on prescription drugs since the overhaul was enacted in March 2010. The Hill's "Healthwatch," Washington Times.
04/25/2012
Instead of trying to push Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed Medicaid and Medicare changes through the Democrat-controlled Senate, Republican lawmakers are promoting less controversial ideas, such as cutting funding to the federal health reform law. AP/Washington Times et al.
04/24/2012
According to a report from CMS' Office of the Actuary, provisions of the health reform law that curb excessive payments to some private insurers and enact new anti-fraud policies could help curb Medicare spending by more than $200 billion through 2016. Modern Healthcare et al.
04/24/2012
A report from the board of trustees for Medicare and Social Security predicts that Medicare's hospital insurance trust fund will become insolvent in 2024. The projected insolvency date has stayed stable since last year. AP/Washington Post et al.
04/23/2012
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for canceling a demonstration program that provides quality bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans. The report contends that the program is unlikely to "produce meaningful results." New York Times et al.
04/23/2012
The Medicare trustees' annual financial reports are scheduled to be released today. Although growth in Medicare spending has slowed, the program still is headed toward insolvency. About 10,000 baby boomers become eligible for Medicare each day. AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
04/19/2012
A new CMS report finds that a yearlong Medicare competitive bidding pilot program conducted in nine metropolitan areas curbed costs by 42% without reducing care quality. However, the American Association for Homecare disputed the report's findings. New York Times et al.