The Long Term Care Partnership Program (which encourages people to buy private long term care insurance) will be extended from five states to 50, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). That is one example of CMS’s new policy changes for Medicaid coverage of dual eligible beneficiaries.
Apparently, some recipients who wouldn’t ordinarily qualify for Medicaid (created for people with low incomes) hide assets in order to qualify for the federal insurance program. Mark McClellan, CMS Administrator, said “Medicaid cannot afford to pay for long-term care services for those who truly need it if it is used to protect inheritances for those with the assets to pay for the care they need.”
The policy changes are further signs of a trend to reduce fraud and keep down expenses by encouraging Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to take preventive health measures and to buy private insurance if they can afford it.
In other news, groups like the American Medical Association, which represents physicians, plan to lobby Congress during August recess over Medicare payments. From Medical News Today:
According to AMA Chair Cecil Wilson, the current Medicare formula will result in a 4.4% reduction in physician reimbursements this year and a 37% reduction over nine years.