Medicare is not just an acute care benefit. It covers skilled maintenance nursing and therapy; in some cases it covers long-term home care. Also, importantly, Medicare covers many preventive services, which, when utilized, can help limit the … [Read more...] about 27. Medicare Covers Preventive Care
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Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to Senate Finance Committee and CMS Regarding Important Health Care Proposals
1. Comments to Senate Finance Committee Chronic Care WorkgroupOn June 22, 2015, the Center for Medicare Advocacy submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee Chronic Care Workgroup in response to the Committee’s May 22, 2015 request … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to Senate Finance Committee and CMS Regarding Important Health Care Proposals
The Jimmo Implementation Council
With support from the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Center for Medicare Advocacy has created a council of beneficiary advocates, providers, policy-makers and other partners to discuss, analyze and advance the implementation of the Jimmo v. … [Read more...] about The Jimmo Implementation Council
26. Medicare Needs a Timely Way for Patients to Appeal Hospice Denials
By Howard Back, a Medicare Beneficiary from CaliforniaMedicare funding for hospice services is a wonderful thing.But there is a missing element in the system: there is no timely way a hospice patient can appeal failure of a hospice to provide … [Read more...] about 26. Medicare Needs a Timely Way for Patients to Appeal Hospice Denials
25. Medicare Can Be a Source for LGBT Inclusive Medical Care
By LGBT Aging Advocacy (Connecticut) and CT TransAdvocacy CoalitionA substantial number of physicians serving Medicare participants do not know the sexual orientation or gender identification of the LGBT elders they care for, although … [Read more...] about 25. Medicare Can Be a Source for LGBT Inclusive Medical Care
Advancing Excellence: Very Few Nursing Homes are “Full Active Participants” and Nearly Half of Them Provide Poor Care
In September 2006, the nursing home industry announced a voluntary quality improvement campaign – Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes.[1] The campaign, now in its ninth year and third phase, describes its mission: “to make nursing homes … [Read more...] about Advancing Excellence: Very Few Nursing Homes are “Full Active Participants” and Nearly Half of Them Provide Poor Care
24. Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage
When Medicare began to provide coverage for prescription drugs almost 10 years ago, under Part D, millions of people who previously had no drug coverage were able to access needed medications. By any measure, the drug benefit has helped many … [Read more...] about 24. Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage
23. Medicare Should Fill Gaps in Coverage for Oral Health and Other Key Health Services
By Judith Stein, Executive Director, Center for Medicare AdvocacyWhen Medicare was enacted in 1965, over half of people over 65 had no health insurance. The fact that Medicare provided affordable, basic health insurance was a huge boon for older … [Read more...] about 23. Medicare Should Fill Gaps in Coverage for Oral Health and Other Key Health Services
Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport: Don’t Lose Out on Coverage
Part B of Medicare will generally cover up to 80% of emergent and non-emergent ambulance transports when medically necessary and when transport by any other means could endanger your health. There are also origin/destination requirements; … [Read more...] about Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport: Don’t Lose Out on Coverage
22. Medicare Needs an Alert Watchdog
By Douglas Gould, President, Douglas Gould and CompanyMedicare has done so much good over the last 50 years, but it needs a tough watchdog to keep it effective in the years to come. Case in point would be the so called “Improvement … [Read more...] about 22. Medicare Needs an Alert Watchdog