Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare Cost And Quality Websites Not Giving Seniors Enough Information, GAO Says
The Associated Press: Federal Gov't Falls Short On More Health Websites
With many seniors facing high medical bills, a congressional investigation has found that federal government websites meant to give Medicare patients basic consumer tools instead fail to provide adequate information on out-of-pocket costs, and even quality of care. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found that Medicare lacks clear procedures for getting useful information to consumers. (Yen, 11/18)
Fox News: GAO Finds Federal Health Websites Not Giving Medicare Patients Enough Information
A congressional investigation has found that federal websites meant to inform Medicare patients about healthcare costs and quality are failing in their mission. A report to be released this week by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) find that Medicare lacks clear procedures for getting useful information to consumers. (11/18)
In other Medicare news, an advocacy organization issued a report urging simplification and streamlining of the enrollment process. Also, North Carolina seniors are facing upheaval in the Medicare Advantage market -
The Wall Street Journal: Medicare Sign-Up Needs To Be Simplified, Group Says
A new report highlights the substantial difficulties that many older adults face in enrolling in Medicare, and calls for new steps to simplify and streamline the process. The report — titled Medicare Part B Enrollment: Pitfalls, Problems and Penalties — is the work of the Medicare Rights Center, a New York-based nonprofit group. The report notes that enrollment problems can have serious consequences for retirees: Beneficiaries new to Medicare, according to the center, “may face lifetime late-enrollment penalties, higher health care costs, gaps in coverage and disruptions in care continuity.” (Ruffenach, 11/17)
The Charlotte Observer: Turmoil In Medicare Advantage Hits NC Seniors Hard
North Carolina senior citizens who choose private Medicare policies are seeing an unusual level of turmoil this year, with more than 57,000 notified their plans won’t be offered in 2015 and others seeing rates more than triple. The upheaval involves Medicare Advantage, a program that lets people 65 and older choose private policies instead of federal health coverage. About 475,000 in North Carolina have those policies, including about 35,000 each in Mecklenburg and Wake counties. No other state had so many people lose their current Medicare Advantage plans, according to a national tally by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks health trends. New York was second with just over 55,000 enrolled in canceled plans. (Helms, 11/17)
