The Bush administration has proposed to raise Medicare drug benefit premiums for “higher-income” beneficiaries. (Kaiser Network)
The proposal includes a cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits and a requirement for health care providers to implement electronic records. The proposal isn’t a move to placate House Democrats (the part about raising premiums for high earners), however; under the 2003 Medicare law, President Bush is required to submit a Medicare savings proposal.
Individual beneficiaries who make at least $82,000 and couples who make at least $164,000 may see their premiums rise. Mike Leavitt, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, says the administration’s budget request would reduce Medicare spending by $178 billion over five years.
In related news, Medicare will no longer reimburse hospitals for the following “preventable” errors: urinary tract infections from catheters, bloodstream infections from using catheters, falls, bed sores or pressure ulcers, objects left in a patient during surgery, blood incompatibility, an infection after heart surgery called mediastinitis, and air embolism. (AP)
