Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Federal Officials Seeking Plan To Cut Medicare Premium Increases
The New York Times: Congress And Obama Administration Seek Ways To Limit Increase In Medicare Premiums
Congress and the Obama administration are frantically seeking ways to hold down Medicare premiums that could rise by roughly 50 percent for some beneficiaries next year, according to lawmakers and Medicare officials. The administration has criticized commercial insurance companies for seeking rate increases much smaller than that. (Pear, 10/5)
The Fiscal Times: Audit Uncovers $124.7 B Of Overpayments And Fraud In Medicare And Medicaid
The Government Accountability Office has confirmed the Obama administration’s worst fears that Medicare and Medicaid fraud and overpayments are spinning out of control and posing a serious long-term budget challenge to Congress and the White House. In fiscal 2014 alone, 22 agencies approved improper Medicare, Medicaid and Earned Income Tax Credit payments totaling an astounding $124.7 billion—an increase of $18.9 billion or 15 percent from the previous year, according to a new report. Those overpayments accounted for over 75 percent of the estimated government-wide overpayments or improper payments. (Pianin, 10/6)
