Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Physicians Contemplate Future Business Decisions Under 'Doc Fix' Cloud
CQ Healthbeat: 'Doc-Fix' Uncertainty Hangs Over Physicians' Care, Purchasing Decisions
Lacking clear signals from Congress on what Medicare will pay doctors after March 31, physicians say they are proceeding cautiously on initiatives such as a move to more coordinated care and increased use of technology. Congress is expected to act again act to stop a 17-year-old budget mechanism known as sustainable growth rate (SGR) from taking effect and triggering deep cuts in doctors’ Medicare reimbursements. Seventeen so-called ‘doc fix’ laws have been enacted since 2003 to block cuts, with the most recent patch (PL 113-93) holding off a mandatory reduction through March, according to the Congressional Research Service. Doctors and executives making financial decisions about physician practices remain wary. (Young, 10/27)
The Detroit Free Press: Michigan Seniors To Pay More For Medicare Part C
Southeast Michigan seniors, on average, will pay more than others across the U.S. for their Medicare Advantage plans this year, according to an analysis by California-based advocacy group HealthPocket. Medicare Advantage, or Part C, plans in six Michigan counties averaged significantly higher premiums than the national average, said Kev Coleman, head of research and data at HealthPocket, which offers a free online tool in which consumers can compare coverage options. The national average premium for an Advantage plan was $61.69 compared to average rates in southeast Michigan counties that ranged from $90.01 in Macomb County to $101.07 in Livingston County. (Erb, 10/28)
Kaiser Health News: Disabled Vt. Senior Who Led Class Action Suit Sues Medicare — Again
A 78-year-old Vermont mother of four who helped change Medicare coverage for millions of other seniors is still fighting to persuade the government to pay for her own care. Glenda Jimmo, who is legally blind and has a partially amputated leg due to complications from diabetes, was the lead plaintiff in a 2011 class-action lawsuit seeking to broaden Medicare’s criteria for covering physical therapy and other care delivered by skilled professionals. In 2012, the government agreed to settle the case, saying that people cannot be denied coverage solely because they have reached a plateau and are not getting better. (Jaffe, 10/27)
