Medicare Part D recipients who are qualified kidney dialysis patients will have extra assistance getting bone disease Medicare Part D prescription drugs. (Medical News Today) The American Kidney Fund (AKF) may give eligible patients up to $2,000 a year in drug assistance funds. These grants will help cover “donut hole†costs for recipients caught in the coverage gap. AKF CEO LaVerne A. Burton said, “Because they take so many prescription medications, many dialysis patients have … [Read more...] about Funds for Kidney Patients Under Medicare Part D
Lawmaker Proposes Changes to Asset Test for Medicare Part D
In an effort to extend federal subsidies for Medicare Part D to more low-income beneficiaries, Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas seeks to revise the asset test for receiving such subsidies. (Kaiser) Doggett introduced a measure that would extend subsidies to about 3.27 million people currently qualified for but who don’t receive subsidies. One way the bill would accomplish this goal is to exclude certain financial assistance from adult children of recipients as “income†when … [Read more...] about Lawmaker Proposes Changes to Asset Test for Medicare Part D
Two Medicare Prescription Drug Studies
The Kaiser Network reports the release of two Medicare prescription drug studies. One study found that over 25 percent of Medicare drug plans increased copayments and prices for beneficiaries in 2006, despite the fact that beneficiaries were locked into the plans for the year. According to the Consumers Union, which issued the study, some private insurance plans raised prices by 5 percent or more last year. One plan reportedly raised costs by almost 30 percent. From Consumers Union: … [Read more...] about Two Medicare Prescription Drug Studies
CMS Denies Lawmakers’ Request for Medicare Drug Discount Data
Lawmakers asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for information on Medicare prescription drug discounts obtained by pharmacy benefit managers, and CMS Administrator Leslie Norwalk refused, contending that the release of such information would undermine the negotiation process. (Kaiser Network) "Several independent entities, including the Congressional Budget Office and the Federal Trade Commission, have concluded that public disclosure of negotiated price concessions will … [Read more...] about CMS Denies Lawmakers’ Request for Medicare Drug Discount Data
Long Term Care Associations Sound Off On Budget Cuts
Fiscal Year 2008 Medicare funding for skilled nursing facilities will be cut by more than $10 billion over five years, and long term care associations are seeing red. Medicare and Medicaid cover close to 80 percent of nursing home patients. According to the American Health Care Association (AHCA), which represents long term care providers, Medicaid underpays patients by almost $13 per patient a day, but Medicare compensates for some of the shortfall. AHCA president and CEO Bill Yarwood … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Associations Sound Off On Budget Cuts
CMS Medicare Reimbursements to Texas Specialty Hospital Questioned
Lawmakers in Congress are questioning reimbursements to certain physician-owned specialty hospitals, which they claim cut corners on basic care to save money. (Source) Senator Charles Grassley, highest ranking Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee, told the Houston Chronicle, "The fundamental problem with physician-owned specialty hospitals is that decision-making is more likely driven by financial interests rather than what is best for patients." Their concern stems from an … [Read more...] about CMS Medicare Reimbursements to Texas Specialty Hospital Questioned
More Medicare Part D Fall-Out for Pharmacists
Last year I blogged about a group of Texas pharmacists (independent operators) lobbying the White House for reimbursement for Medicare Part D prescription drugs. (See Texas Pharmacists Lobby White House) The pharmacists were not receiving sufficient reimbursement to make up for the millions of dollars worth of drugs they gave to Part D patients for free, in part because Part D was new and confusing, and patients who needed medications couldn’t afford to wait for approval. To make … [Read more...] about More Medicare Part D Fall-Out for Pharmacists
Democratic Seek to Increase Prescription Drug Regulation
Democrats on Capitol Hill are continuing their efforts to increase prescription drug regulation by introducing measures to expand the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority “by requiring drug approvals to be paired with programs to manage risk once they reach the market.†(Source) One issue of contention is whether to use the user-fee agreement between the FDA and drug companies to implement these changes. The user-fee agreement will expire this year. Wall Street Journal … [Read more...] about Democratic Seek to Increase Prescription Drug Regulation
Increased Medicare Reimbursements for Long Term Care Hospitals?
Last week, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a 0.71 percent increase in standard Medicare reimbursement rates for long-term care hospitals for 2008. According to CMS, the rule would “assure appropriate payment for services by long-term acute care hospitals…to severely ill or medically complex patients, while providing incentives for more efficient care for Medicare beneficiaries.†Interested parties may comment on the proposed rule over the next 60 days, … [Read more...] about Increased Medicare Reimbursements for Long Term Care Hospitals?
Cost of Medicare Part D Lower Than Expected
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the cost of Medicare Part D over 10 years will be $265 billion less than estimated last August. (Source) The Medicare prescription drug benefit will cost $38 billion this year and $675 billion from 2007 through 2016. CBO director Peter Orszag (pictured) said the lowered cost estimate is attributed to the "lower-than-expected bids" of prescription drug plans. "The bids are coming in, and the pricing is coming in better than anticipated, … [Read more...] about Cost of Medicare Part D Lower Than Expected
