GAO Report Says More Medicare Advantage Network Oversight Needed
In other Medicare news, Part D drug prices are set to rise in 2016, some by a lot. Elsewhere, a new poll finds wide support for Medicare paying for end-of-life conversations, and another report finds nursing homes get much more in Medicare payments than it costs them to provide care.
Reuters:
GAO Report Calls For Tougher Oversight Of Medicare Advantage Plans
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must do more to ensure that health insurance plans offered through Medicare Advantage, a private alternative to traditional Medicare, have adequate networks, according to a government report. (Pierson, 9/30)
CNBC:
Medicare Drug Plan Prices Set To Rise In 2016, Some By A Lot
Seniors, get ready to dig deeper into your wallets, or to start shopping more. More than 15 million people enrolled in the top 10 Medicare "Part D" prescription drug plans will face average premium hikes of 8 percent next year, according to a new analysis. Those top 10 plans account for more than 80 percent of enrollment in such drug plans, the Avalere Health consultancy found. Five of the top prescription drug plans will see double-digit premium hikes next year. (Mangan, 9/29)
Kaiser Health News:
Poll Finds Overwhelming Support For Medicare Paying For End-Of-Life Talks
The public overwhelmingly supports Medicare’s plan to pay for end-of-life discussions between doctors and patients, despite GOP objections that such chats would lead to rationed care for the elderly and ill, a poll released Wednesday finds. (Rau, 9/30)
The New York Times:
Nursing Homes Bill For More Therapy Than Patients Need, U.S. Says
Nursing homes receive far more in Medicare payments than it costs them to provide care, exploiting the billing system in some cases by giving patients more therapy services than they need, federal investigators said in a new report. The report, to be issued on Wednesday by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that nursing homes regularly filed claims for the highest, most expensive level of therapy, regardless of what patients required. (Pear, 9/30)
