Individuals with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for six months may now find it easier to obtain coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). PCIP was created by the Affordable Care Act to provide interim … [Read more...] about Many Uninsured Individuals with Pre-Existing Conditions Will Find It Easier to Obtain Coverage
Weekly Alert
CMS Sends Out Reminders to LIS-Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is sending "Choosers Reminder Notices" to approximately 944,000 Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for the Part D low-income subsidy (LIS). The notices, … [Read more...] about CMS Sends Out Reminders to LIS-Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
Combating Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Health Care
Combating fraud, waste and abuse in health care and in other federal programs remains a popular refrain for reducing federal expenditures. In a survey conducted by AARP in September 2009, 80% of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older agreed that … [Read more...] about Combating Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Health Care
2011 Medicare Trustees Report
The Medicare Trustees issued their annual report on Medicare's financial status on Friday, May 13, 2011. According to this year's report, the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund has sufficient reserves to pay out the full amount of … [Read more...] about 2011 Medicare Trustees Report
Send Us Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs)
The Center is concerned about the use of MSNs that do not reveal to beneficiaries that their service was denied based on a National Coverage Determination. Such an MSN will instead provide a misleading explanation, such as "Medicare does … [Read more...] about Send Us Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs)
Preserve Medicaid – Share Your Story!
The Center for Medicare Advocacy would like to bring to your attention this request from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) for stories about the importance of Medicaid.Do you provide time and financial support to a family … [Read more...] about Preserve Medicaid – Share Your Story!
Medicare Secondary Payer Practices that Harm Medicare Beneficiaries
A group of organizations has identified collection practices in the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) program that are unnecessarily harmful to beneficiaries. On April 28, 2011, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, together with the American Bar … [Read more...] about Medicare Secondary Payer Practices that Harm Medicare Beneficiaries
Proposed Notice Requirements About Quality of Care: Endorsement, with Concerns
On April 4, 2011, the Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) filed comments on a proposal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a new condition of Medicare participation (CoP) for certain Medicare service … [Read more...] about Proposed Notice Requirements About Quality of Care: Endorsement, with Concerns
New Hospice Face-to-Face Requirement: Help or Hindrance?
Eligibility for Medicare coverage of hospice care is contingent in part upon a hospice physician certifying that the beneficiary has a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness runs its normal course. In an effort to … [Read more...] about New Hospice Face-to-Face Requirement: Help or Hindrance?
Send Us Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs)
The Center is concerned about the use of MSNs that do not reveal to beneficiaries that their service was denied based on a National Coverage Determination. Such an MSN will instead provide a misleading explanation, such as "Medicare does … [Read more...] about Send Us Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs)