President Joe Biden recently utilized his State of the Union address to begin a major improvement in the quality of nursing homes in the country. This improvement addresses an increase in minimum staffing levels as well as efforts taken to improve inspections while all-the-while following the Covid-19 safety protocol. Biden…
Articles Posted in Senior Health Care
Reduction to Medicare Part B Looming
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services is still evaluating its Part B premium due to changes that have happened after the amount was established last year. Approximately, 50% of the increase in the premiums is the result of the potential cost associated with paying for the Alzheimer’s medication, Aduhelm.…
Avoiding Surprise Bill and Complications with a Recent Regulation
People are fortunately now not obligated to cover care received that was not part of the network if the care was given without that person’s consent. This is the result of a healthcare law that became effective at the beginning of 2020 and could lead to fewer insurance payment issues…
State-Run ACA Exchanges Create Alternative Plans
In 2020, President Biden and his administration as well as states throughout the country recently celebrated unprecedented gains in enrollment for the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, state-operated exchanges are striving to create alternative plans addressing outreach in the event that Congress fails to extend the Act beyond 2022. A substantial…
Minimum Nursing Home Requirements Become Effective in New York
The Governor of New York recently removed a three-month prohibition on a new regulation requiring nursing homes to satisfy minimum staffing requirements to provide patient care. Supporters of the regulation, which establishes minimum staffing ratios and requires that nursing home residents receive at least 3.5 hours a day of direct…
7 Limitations to Medicare
With more people approaching the age of 65, a growing number of people are considering the potential benefits available from Medicare as well as other insurance options. Medicare A plays the critical role of paying for hospital stays as well as other services like skilled nursing facilities and hospice care.…
Dobson Highlights Challenges with Medicare Part D Medication Coverage
On February 11, 2022, the appellate court for the 11th circuit reversed a decision by a lower court. The appellate court in Dobson v. Secretary of Health and Human Services held that Medicare must provide coverage for a beneficiary’s off-label use of a medication. How the Case Arose The case…
Geriatric Guidelines Suggest How to Improve Elderly Care
The substantial growth of elderly adults in the United States leads to more emergency room visits and complications from injuries and diseases. To meet this challenge, the Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines were published in 2014 and later received support from several large medical organizations including Emergency Nurses Association and the…
Commonly Asked Questions about Over-the-Counter Tests and Medicare
It’s almost an understatement to say that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives and how we live in a range of ways. While Medicare did not pay for Covid-19 tests that were available over the counter, the Center for Medicaid Services is in the process of executing an effort…
Answers to Commonly Asked Medicare Home Health Questions
The Center for Medicare Advocacy recently published a document answering various questions about Medicare’s home health benefits. In addition to a document answering frequently asked questions, the Center also published recordings of two webinars, “Medicare Coverage of Home Health Services”, which reviews the eligibility basics for Medicare coverage of home…