(Steve Gleason, on living with ALS and utilizing a speech generating device.)The Steve Gleason Act of 2015, recently introduced in the House and the Senate, is a good first step toward ensuring continuous Medicare coverage for individuals who … [Read more...] about “Until there is a cure, technology is the cure.”
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4. Medicare’s Future Was Strengthened by the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Medicare – one of our nation's most popular and successful programs – celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, having been signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965. Before the enactment of Medicare, only 50 … [Read more...] about 4. Medicare’s Future Was Strengthened by the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Federal Judge Rules Case to Fix Broken Medicare Appeals System May Continue
On January 29, 2015, a federal judge ruled that Medicare beneficiaries who filed suit about the lengthy and illegal delays in Administrative Law Judge appeals may proceed with the case. The Center for Medicare Advocacy, which represents the … [Read more...] about Federal Judge Rules Case to Fix Broken Medicare Appeals System May Continue
CMS Tool for Assessing Civil Money Penalties Imposed Against Nursing Facilities Continues to Ensure that Penalties Will Remain Low
Civil Money Penalties for nursing facilities have historically been too low to provide meaningful incentive for most facilities to comply with federal standards of care implemented to ensure patient safety and well-being. The new Civil Money Penalty … [Read more...] about CMS Tool for Assessing Civil Money Penalties Imposed Against Nursing Facilities Continues to Ensure that Penalties Will Remain Low
Insufficient Staffing – Litigation
Although inadequate staffing is a claim in many negligence and wrongful death lawsuits against nursing facilities, some litigation addresses insufficient staffing directly as the sole issue. Two cases are discussed here: the New Mexico Attorney … [Read more...] about Insufficient Staffing – Litigation
Observation Status and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
At its January 16, 2015 public meeting, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the government agency that advises Congress on Medicare payment policy, addressed observation status as part of its discussion of hospital short stay policy … [Read more...] about Observation Status and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Appeals Court Allows Hospital Patients in “Observation Status” to Continue Court Case
Medicare patients considered hospital outpatients on Observation Status may be helped by a decision issued on January 22, 2015 by a federal appeals court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided that … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Allows Hospital Patients in “Observation Status” to Continue Court Case
3. Medicare Saves Lives
By Connie Cherba, IowaIn early 2000, Edward, who was then 60 years old, applied for Social Security Disability. Despite having suffered from bipolar disorder for nearly 40 years, Edward had earned a PhD, but was not able to hold a … [Read more...] about 3. Medicare Saves Lives
2015 Presenter Bios and Photos
Ben BeltonBen F. Belton is the Senior Advisor to the Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs. Prior to this he served as an HHS Constituency Liaison to constituency groups and … [Read more...] about 2015 Presenter Bios and Photos
2. Medicare Reduced Poverty
Medicare has not only provided access to care for people who could not get private insurance, it has also significantly reduced poverty. As Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, former administrator of HCFA (Now CMS) stated in the preface to A Profile of … [Read more...] about 2. Medicare Reduced Poverty