Medicare in Medical News

Congress Unlikely to Pass Permanent Medicare Physician Payment Fix in 2009, says MedicareSupplementPlans.com

Comprehensive health reform legislation is not likely to include a permanent solution to the Medicare physician payment system this year, says MedicareSupplementPlans.com . Los Angeles, CA (Vocus) August 8, 2009 -– Congress is unlikely to pass legislation this ye...

Federal Judge Sentences Defendants Who Perpetrated $10.9 Million Medicare Fraud HIV Infusion Scheme

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Miami physician Keith Russell, 65, and physician's assistant Jorge Luis Pacheco, 50, were each sentenced to 97 months in prison, and physician's assistant Eda Marietta Milanes, 43, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, for their roles in frau...

GetOnlineQuotes.com to Offer AARP/United Healthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance to Florida Residents

New insurance plans provided by GetOnlineQuotes.com offer the best value in the current marketplace. Miami, FL (PRWEB) August 6, 2009 -- Because prices and benefits for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are regulated by law, the AARP Medicare Supplement ( http://www...

Multi-state Medicare Fraud Crackdown Focuses Attention on Recovery Payoffs to Defray Health Reform Costs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In the aftermath of 32 recent arrests for Medicare fraud in Houston, Boston and Miami, discussions are now focusing on how massive recoveries by the government can significantly help defray the costs of current health reform initiatives. This late...

National Long Term Care Community Business Coalition Cautions Severe $16 Billion Medicare Cuts to Nursing Home Care Will Not Only Jeopardize Quality Care to Seniors but Deeply Impact Businesses that Support Sector, Contribute to Local Economies

Draconian Cuts to Medicare Compounded by Further Cuts Proposed in House Healthcare Reform Legislation and Inadequate Medicaid Funding from Weakened State Budgets WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Community Cares Coalition (CoCares) - a national coalition o...

SLAICO Takes the Medicare Supplement Application Online - Eliminating All Paperwork Offline.

LEAGUE CITY, Texas, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1948, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company has been dedicated to the insurance needs of seniors, with an unyielding commitment to quality service, both for the client and the insurance Agent. This has never been more evident t...

American Association for Homecare Supports Crackdown on Medicare Scammers in Houston, Boston, New York, Louisiana

Association's Anti-Fraud Legislative Plan Will Yield Cost-Savings for Healthcare Reform and Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicare ARLINGTON, Va., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association for Homecare strongly supports the recent Medicare Fraud Strike...

National Coalition of Front-Line Skilled Nursing Clinicians: Bipartisan Momentum to Stop CMS Medicare Regulation, Subsequent Funding Cuts, Grows in Congress

Caregiver Coalition Applauds Congressional Outcry Over Proposed Regulation That Would Cut Billions From Medicare Funding for Skilled Nursing Care WASHINGTON, July 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition to Protect Senior Care (CPSC) -- a national coalition of front-li...

Medigap Plans in Illinois to Benefit From Medicare Advantage Reimbursement Cuts

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a leading provider of managed care market intelligence, reports that planned cuts to Medicare Advantage reimbursement will benefit organizations offering Medicare supplement plans in Illinois. According to the recent Il...

Medicare Cuts Will Force Many Cancer Centers To Close, Stop Seeing Medicare Patients, Lay Off Staff, According To ASTRO Survey

FAIRFAX, Va., July 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cut payments for radiation therapy treatments would cause many cancer centers to close, stop accepting Medicare patients, lay off support staff and reduce services...

Medicare Agency Announces Decreased Payments to Medicare Advantage Insurers in 2010, Says MedicareSupplementPlans.com

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced cuts in payments to Medicare Advantage insurers of as much as 4.5 percent by the year 2010. The additional costs could be passed along to seniors, says MedicareSupplementPlans.com . Los Angeles, CA (Vocus) July 2...

Savannah City Leaders Launch Medicare Diabetes Screening Project

SAVANNAH, Ga. July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Senator Lester Jackson III (D - 2nd District), Diane Weems, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Coastal Health District, Charles Powell, Executive Director, Community Cardiovascular Council, and Loretha Jenkins, Program Coordinator, Coastal Area Ag...

Good News for Seniors: California Lowest in Overall Medicare Cost Increases, Says MedicareSupplementPlans.com

While Medicare spending varies widely across the U.S. because of how physicians spend in different areas of the country, California has experienced one of the lowest overall Medicare cost increases over the past 15 years, says MedicareSupplementPlans.com . Los Angeles,...

Tampa Bay Doctor Agrees to Pay United States $1.7 Million to Resolve Medicare Fraud Allegations

WASHINGTON, July 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Gabriel DeCandido, a physician practicing internal medicine in Largo, Fla., has agreed to pay the United States $1.7 million to settle allegations that he defrauded the Medicare program, the Department of Justice announced today. ...

Home Oxygen Patients and Family Members Visit Capitol Hill to Ask Congress to Protect Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Benefit

Patient Advocates , Medicare Beneficiaries Visit Capitol Hill to Urge Congress to Pass Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act, Oppose Additional Cuts to Oxygen Benefit WASHINGTON, July 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Asking members of Congress to support patient-focused reform ...

Congressmen Mike Ross and Kendrick Meek Introduce Bill to Protect Medicare Patients Who Require Medical Oxygen Therapy at Home

American Association for Homecare Applauds 'Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act of 2009' Which Would Repeal Harmful Rules that Cause Confusion, Service Disruption, and Reduced Access to Care for More than One Million Seniors ARLINGTON, Va., July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Th...

Radiology Benefit Management Could Save Medicare up to $18 Billion Over 10 Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medicare program could save between $11.6 and $18 billion in diagnostic imaging costs over the next 10 years by implementing a radiology benefit management (RBM) program similar to those used in the private sector. Currently, 90 percent ...

National Advocacy Organization Representing Home Oxygen Patients Praises Introduction of Medicare Home Oxygen Therapy Act

NEW YORK, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Providing a voice to home oxygen patients nationwide, including patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases, the National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA) today called the Medicare Home Oxygen The...

CMS Selects TrailBlazer Health Enterprises to Administer Medicare Program in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi

DALLAS, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC announced today that the company has been awarded a new contract by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to serve as the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Jur...

Endoscopic Technologies to Pay U.S. $1.4 Million to Resolve Allegations of Medicare Fraud

WASHINGTON, July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Endoscopic Technologies Inc. (Estech), a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay the United States $1.4 million to resolve civil claims in connection with the alleged promotion of its surgical ablation devices, the Justice Department ...

Physician Hospitals of America Charges: Hospital Associations Bargain Away $155 Billion in Medicare Funding in Attempt to Destroy Physician Hospitals

WASHINGTON, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals and Catholic Health Association announced an agreement with the White House and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) to reduce Medicare hospital spending by $155 billion. Cost saving...

NEJM study addresses impact of Medicare Part D on medical spending

PITTSBURGH, July 1 After enrolling in Medicare Part D, seniors who previously had limited or no drug coverage spent more on prescriptions and less on other medical care services such as hospitalizations and visits to the doctor's office, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of ...

Jury Convicts Los Angeles Physician Assistant for Stealing Doctor's Identity and Defrauding Medicare in $7.7 Million Scheme

WASHINGTON, July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted a physician assistant late yesterday for his role in a $7.7 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien of the Cen...

With Medicare Plan, Drug Spending May Be Up

Researchers suspect overuse as a cause, but note that other costs are down WEDNESDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- Older people who signed up for Medicare's prescription drug coverage, called Part D, spent more on drugs after enrolling than they had before but less on other types of medi...

Avalere Estimates Medicare Part D 'Donut Hole' Will Be Obsolete in 2023

WASHINGTON, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's 65 year old Medicare Part D beneficiary will be 79 when the coverage gap, or 'donut hole,' is eliminated, says a new analysis of proposed legislation from the House of Representatives released today by Avalere Health. The firm also concludes that althoug...

Miami Physician Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Role in $10 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Miami physician Roberto Rodriguez, 54, was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme involving HIV infusion services, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attor...

Rising Financial Solutions Taps Director of Business Development for Medicare Set Aside Administration Offerings

CHICAGO, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising Financial Solutions, LLC, a medical-financial management company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Rising Medical Solutions, Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Hany Abdelsayed as the Director of Business Development for its Medicare Set Aside (MS...

Eight Miami-Area Residents Charged in $22 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Home Health Care Agencies

Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges Individuals, Freezes Assets WASHINGTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight Miami-Dade County, Fla., residents have been indicted in connection with an alleged $22 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of Miami businesses purporting to specialize...

First Coast Medicare to Provide Case by Case Reimbursement for the Renessa(R) Treatment for Incontinence in Women

NEWARK, Calif., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Novasys Medical, Inc., a developer of innovative therapies in women's health, announced today that as of July 1, 2009, First Coast Service Options, Inc. ("First Coast"), a large regional Medicare carrier serving over 3 million beneficiaries in Florida, Puert...

RetireSafe Salutes Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America for Its Commitment to Cut Drug Prices and Help Seniors in the Medicare 'Doughnut-Hole'

WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the 400,000-strong seniors group RetireSafe saluted the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) for its commitment to support legislation to cut prescription drug prices by 50 percent for seniors who fall into the Medicare P...

PhRMA Statement on Medicare Part D Coverage Gap

WASHINGTON, June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO Billy Tauzin and PhRMA Board Chairman David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, issued the following statement regarding today's commitment, as part of health ca...

National Council on Aging and Medicare Diabetes Screening Project Launch New Program to Educate Seniors about Medicare's Benefits for Diabetes Screening

Daschle and Others Call the Need Urgent; Among Seniors with Diabetes, Half Are Unaware; Medicare's Free Diabetes Screening Benefits Underutilized WASHINGTON, June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a meeting today sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Medicare Diabetes Sc...

House Bill to Provide Cancer Patients With Solution for Quality Cancer Care Within an Equitable Medicare Model

Members of Congress Seek Oncology Best Practices as First Step in Cancer Care Reform WASHINGTON, June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Representatives Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), Steve Israel (D-NY) and Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH) have introduced H.R. 2872, the Medicare Quality Cancer Care Demonstr...

Allsup Medicare Advisor(SM) Expands Service; Helps Seniors and People with Disabilities Make Best Medicare Choices

People now have objective, personalized support to learn about all Medicare options, enroll in the plan that is best for them and receive significant healthcare savings; new service adds online convenience Belleville, Ill. (Vocus) June 17, 2009 -- Allsup today announced...

Senate Bill to Protect Patients' Healthcare by Amending Medicare Coverage

- Members of Congress Seek to Stem Growing Healthcare Coverage Shortfalls - WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill, S. 1221, "The Medicare Prompt Pay Correction Act," a companion bill to H.R. 1392, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives ...

After House Committee Chairs Meet on Health Reform, Long Term Care Leaders Say Rescinding Bush-Era Medicare Regulation Critical to Protecting Jobs, Preserving Quality Eldercare

Administration's FY 2010 Budget Must be Aligned With Nation's Broader Economic, Health Policy Goals WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Education and Labor Committee Chair...

PhRMA Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of Success of Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the debate over comprehensive healthcare reform now in full swing, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is launching a new national broadcast advertising campaign touting the importance and success of free-market initiatives s...

RetireSafe Blasts Plan to Pay for Health Care Reform With Huge Medicare Cuts

Calls Obama's Rationing-by-Bureaucrat Proposal an Outrage to Older Americans WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the 400,000 strong senior-citizen group RetireSafe blasted President Obama and his Congressional allies for proposing to cut $500 billion or more from Medicare to ...

Four Miami-Area Residents Sentenced In $10 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Defendants admitted to conspiring to defraud Medicare at HIV infusion clinics WASHINGTON, June 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four Miami-area residents were sentenced today in connection with a $10 million Medicare fraud scheme involving HIV infusion clinics, Assistant Attorney General L...

HealthMetrix Research Selects Medicare Advantage Plan Websites for 2009 MedicareWebWatch Certification

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthMetrix Research Inc., an independent managed care research firm, announces the selection of sixteen Medicare Advantage plan websites for MedicareWebWatch certification. The websites were selected from 117 Medicare Advantage websites after a comprehen...