‘People with Medicare are frustrated and bewildered…’

Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service organization, issued a statement related to Medicare’s new prescription drug program. An excerpt: Less than five percent of people who could voluntarily choose a prescription drug plan have done so (see calculations below). People with Medicare are frustrated and bewildered about a [...]

Drugs Excluded from Medicare Part D

The blogger over at Over! My! Med! Body! is a third year medical student. His blog is very informative about Health Care policies. He recently posted an article that will answer questions you may have about why some medications seem to be missing from the Medicare Drug Calculator. He obtained the following information from a [...]

‘It might as well be in Chinese.’

Medicare’s new prescription drug plan is causing more headaches. Many beneficiaries don’t understand it, and doctors say it’s “unrealistic” for them to bear the burden of explaining it. From the Associated Press: Millions of senior citizens will become eligible for the benefit Jan. 1, but many don’t know whether it will save them money, or [...]

New Pharmacy Claims System

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has announced that it has moved to a new pharmacy claims system, effective December 31, 2005. Information about why the system is changing doesn’t appear on the site, but there are links to frequently asked questions, a pharmacy providers letter, and a quick reference guide for providers.

Texas Association for Home Care Winter Conference

Texas Association for Home Care will hold a conference on January 25-26, 2006, at the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Providers will have an opportunity to discuss recent trends in home health care and network with other providers. Some session titles: The Future of Medicare & Medicaid Reform – What it Means to Texas, the [...]

Building and Electrical Codes

The Texas legislature recently amended sections of the Local Government Code, which will affect certain long term care providers. The amendments were added to define “International Building Code” and “Commercial.” The letter can be accessed through PDF file by clicking here. All municipalities must adopt the International Building Code as the standard for commercial buildings [...]

New Texas Provider Letter on Medicare RX–Jan. 1, 2006 Deadline

Texas DADS has published a new provider letter regarding Medicare Rx. as impacts Nursing Homes and ICF-MRs . The letter addresses dual beneficiaries of Medicaid/Medicare: Effective January 1, 2006, all full-dual Medicare beneficiaries (Medicare beneficiaries who currently receive prescription drug coverage through Medicaid) will be transitioned from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to the new Medicare [...]

Decisions for 41 Million

Medicare’s new prescription drug program goes into effect in less that two weeks, and pharmacies and nursing homes are making preparations. About 41 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries will get to select plans that will cover part of the prescription drug costs. As I’ve written before, long term care providers are concerned that elderly patients, many [...]

The HCSSA Survey Process

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services has issued a letter informing Home and Community Support Services Agencies about what they can expect when their agency is surveyed. The letter outlines each stage of the process, including how to begin the informal review of deficiencies, and agency rights and responsibilities. Download a PDF copy [...]

2006 Budget Negotiations Continue

Budget negotiations are getting a lot of press, and for good reason. At issue this week is a 1 percent increase in Medicare reimbursement for doctors, and lawmakers are still trying to reach an agreement on Medicare cuts. Meanwhile, doctors and beneficiaries have expressed confusion over Medicare’s new prescription drug program, and patients’ rights groups [...]

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