Archive for September, 2007

Medicare hotline needs help, study says

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Customer satisfaction with a toll-free help line for Medicare beneficiaries appears to be dropping based on interviews conducted earlier this year by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human services. The 1-800-Medicare line is a critical resource used by millions of elderly and disabled Americans, as well as their family members. Tens of thousands of people call the number…
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Senate Committee Has Begun To Draft Bill To Prevent Reduction In Medicare Physician Payments

Friday, September 28th, 2007

The Senate Finance Committee has begun to draft a bill that would eliminate a 10% reduction in Medicare reimbursements to physicians scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, according to Democratic committee aide Shawn Bishop, CQ Today reports. The legislation would finance the elimination of the reduction through a decrease in reimbursements to Medicare advantage plans. [click link for full…
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Medicare fee cuts would hurt patient care, doctors warn

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Scheduled Medicare payment cuts to doctors will make it tougher for patients to get care, physicians warned Thursday.
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Medicare drug plans raise prices

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Many elderly and disabled residents in Ohio who get their medicine through Medicare prescription drug plans can expect to pay more next year if they want the same coverage.
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Labor Sees Light On Medicare Safety Net, Australia

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Chair of the AMA’s Public Health Committee, Dr John Gullotta, said that Labor’s decision to support the Medicare Safety Net will bring comfort to Australian families who battle with medical bills.Dr Gullotta said bipartisan support for the Safety Net was overdue but welcome.
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Hundreds Of Thousands Of Americans To Lose Medicare Premium Assistance, Unless Congress Acts Immediately

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

A federal program that pays the Medicare Part B premium for low-income people with Medicare will end on September 30 unless Congress extends the program.”Congress must not turn its back on older and disabled Americans with low incomes who depend on Medicare premium support to allow them to afford Medicare,” said Robert M.
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Poll finds Medicare hotline callers frustrated

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Washington - Callers to the U.S. government’s hotline for the Medicare health program for senior citizens are increasingly frustrated by the service, according to a poll released on Thursday.
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Medicare Computer Deal Could Bring Billions to SAIC

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

SAIC was one of eight large companies to be awarded a contract from the federal Centers for Medicare and medicaid services for business application development and maintenance support services.
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