The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended that hospitals receive full market basket Medicare payment increases in fiscal year 2010. (Kaiser Network)
Among the proposals is a 1.6 percent payment increase recommendation for long term care hospitals based on quality of care delivered. A final vote will come in January. MedPAC advises Congress on Medicare issues.
In other Medicare news, Kaiser reports that close to 133,000 beneficiaries in Tennessee have not taken advantage of Part D, the prescription drug program, despite not being covered by other drug programs. Reasons? Possibly lack of knowledge, confusion, can’t afford it, etc. We can assume Tennessee is not the only state where large numbers of eligible beneficiaries have not signed up for Part D.
Open enrollment for Medicare Part D began on November 15th and ends on December 31st. There’s a one percent penalty for every month beneficiaries wait to enroll after the deadline.
