‘Extreme’ opioid use and doctor shopping still plague Medicare
BY CHARLES ORNSTEIN: Officials have known for years that opioid prescribing has been a problem in Medicare. ProPublica first highlighted the problem in 2013, by publishing data on the drugs prescribed by every physician in the Medicare Part D program. Following that report, CMS put in place what it called an Overutilization Monitoring System, which tracked beneficiaries at the highest risk for overdoses or drug abuse. It asked the private insurance companies that run the drug program on its behalf, under contract, to review the cases and provide a response. (read more)
Ways and Means Committee passes bipartisan bills to strengthen Medicare programs
BY REP. PAT TIBERI’S OFFICE: The Committee on Ways and Means unanimously passed several bipartisan bills to strengthen Medicare programs, including provisions Health Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi authored to reauthorize Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and protect patient access to infused medications for vulnerable beneficiaries. (read more)
Medicare Advantage market turns nursing homes into insurer business
BY JORDAN RAU: These plans are recent additions to the Medicare Advantage market, where private plans have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional fee-for-service coverage. Unlike other plans, these policies offered by long-term care companies often place a nurse in the skilled nursing facility or retirement village, where they can talk directly to staff and assess patients’ conditions. Some provide primary care doctors and nurses to residents in the homes or in affiliated assisted living facilities or retirement villages with the aim of staving off hospitalizations. (read more)
The new Medicare Plus Card saves you up to 75% on things not covered by Medicare
Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Luckily, those on Medicare can now start saving on out of pocket expenses like prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, and more. Over 1 million people have already received their free Medicare Plus Card.
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