The Center for Medicare Advocacy publishes a Weekly Alert via email.  The column deals with current issues in health care, particularly those which are of interest to Medicare beneficiaries and those who work with them.  The first Alert went out on March 4, 2004.  Many of the Alerts have dealt with various aspects of the Medicare Act of 2003.  To read through past alerts, please follow the links below.  .PDF versions of some Alerts are available where noted.

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- Lydia H. baker, Coordinator - Pima Council On Aging

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- Jill Kohler, Service Coordinator, Walnut Creek Village

CMA WEEKLY ALERTS

• 11/05/09 - Medicare and Related Provisions in Health Care Reform Legislation

• 10/29/09 - When Medicare Advantage plans Do Not Renew Their Contracts

• 10/22/09 - CMS Releases 2010 Medicare Cost-Sharing Amounts

• 10/22/09 - Hospice News: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

• 10/15/09 - CMS Reins in Overpayments to Skilled Nursing Facilities

• 10/08/09 - It's October: Time to Review Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

• 10/01/09 - 2010 Brings Improvements to Programs for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

• 09/24/09 - CMS Acts to Stop Misleading Medicare Private Plan Communications about Health Care Reform

• 09/24/09 - Swine Flu, Seasonal Flu, and Medicare

• 09/17/09 - Limits on Medicare's Recovery of Health Care Payments when the Beneficiary has Liability or Workers' Compensation Insurance

• 09/10/09 - Why Health Care Reform is GOOD for Medicare Beneficiaries

• 09/03/09 - Private Profits, Cost Shifting, and the Need for a Public Plan Option

• 08/27/09 - Social Security: No Cost of Living Adjustment; Medicare: Higher Premiums for Some

• 08/20/09 - The difficulty Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) beneficiaries have with private plans is a cautionary tale for health care reform.

• 08/13/09 - Countering Health Reform Misinformation

• 08/06/09 - Protect private Medicare enrollees from marketing abuses: limit Federal preemption.

• 07/30/09 - Proposed Medicare advisory organizations could help AND hurt.

• 07/23/09 - The President on health care reform: "It's not about me."

• 07/16/09 - Certain dually eligible beneficiaries must take affirmative steps to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.

• 07/16/09 - Are you a Wellpoint customer?  You may be eligible for a special enrollment period if your plan was dropped.

• 07/09/09 - One priority of reform should be making sure health care is affordable for people over 50.

• 07/02/09 - DMEPOS Competitive Bidding update

• 06/25/09 - Who do we want in control of health care?

• 06/18/09 - Do you need help to get prescription drugs?

• 06/11/09 - Exceptions to Medicare Therapy Caps

• 06/04/09 - Health care reformers should not forget to look at Health Information technology as a reform tool.

• 05/28/09 - Older Americans' Mental Health Week is May 24-30, so let's look at mental health services that are available under Medicare.

• 05/21/09 - Want real health care reform?  Support a public plan option!

• 05/21/09 - Stimulus checks are coming for nursing home residents.  CMS has made it clear that money belongs to the residents.

• 05/14/09 - CMS is taking steps to undo skilled nursing facility (SNF) overpayment and abuse.

• 05/07/09 - Recent documents from CMS mean changes for private Medicare plans.

• 05/07/09 - Mother's Day and Graduations are here.  SNF residents CAN leave the nursing home for these events.

• 04/30/09 - Stimulus checks are coming for nursing home residents.  Who keeps that money?  The residents.

• 04/23/09 - Health care reform MUST include a public plan.

• 04/16/09 - Nursing Home Industry Makes Secret Survey and Enforcement Proposals to Congress.

• 04/09/09 - Medicare Changes for Oxygen Equipment Payment and Maintenance.

• 04/02/09 - It's past time for a coordinated care benefit in the traditional Medicare program.

• 03/26/09 - The Medicare "Improvement Standard" is a barrier to necessary care.

• 03/19/09 - National health care Decisions Day is April 16, 2009.  Now  is the time to to talk to your loved ones about end-of-life planning.

• 03/12/09 - Limited opportunity to expand QMB and LIS coverage ends with the Open Enrollment Period on March 31st.

• 03/05/09 - More good news from the Stimulus Act for beneficiaries - a cash benefit, facility improvements, and more.

• 02/26/09 - Competitive bidding program for suppliers for certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) delayed until April 18, 2009

• 02/19/09 - Stimulus Act helps people in need as well as the economy - QI program extended, help with COBRA premiums, and more.

• 02/12/09 - It's time for a real Medicare prescription drug plan.

• 02/05/09 - New 2009 Poverty Levels will affect eligibility for many federal health programs.

• 01/29/09 - Assisted Living Facility residents can lose their homes if their facility stops participating in Medicaid.

• 01/22/09 - CMS releases final rules for Parts C and D; further review requested by the President's Chief of Staff.

• 01/15/09 - Beware of Private Fee For Service plans as Medicare open enrollment continues.

• 01/08/09 - Medicare Part B Premium adjusted due to income?  You may be able to challenge the increase.

• CMA Weekly Alerts 2008

• CMA Weekly Alerts 2007

• CMA Weekly Alerts 2006

• CMA Weekly Alerts 2005

• CMA Weekly Alerts 2004

For further information on these alerts or to change your mailing status, please contact Matthew Shepard at (860) 456-7790 or mshepard @ medicareadvocacy.org (remove spaces in email address).