Affluent Seniors Could Take A Hit On Medicare
Both Democrats and Republicans are eyeing proposals to require well-off Medicare beneficiaries to pay more for their coverage as the super committee looks for ways to hold down spending.
Romney’s Plan Would Fundamentally Change Medicare
Although the GOP presidential candidate is offering to let beneficiaries stay in the traditional fee-for-service program, critics say his plan could shift more cost to individuals.
Price (Bill) Is Right For Cain’s Health Fix
Following an immediate repeal of the health law, Herman Cain as president would sign a replacement bill designed to reduce costs and increase coverage with less government involvement. The measure embraced by Cain on Wednesday was first offered in 2009 by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., and was reintroduced this September. It has 19 House Republican cosponsors. “It’s the […]
Cain On Health Care: What To Expect From Capitol Hill Speech
When GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain comes face-to-face with a crowd of legislators and news reporters Wednesday, the subject will be health care policy, not sexual harassment- – if Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, has his way. Burgess is bringing Cain to Capitol Hill to flesh out his health care ideas, which so far have been […]
More Than 25% Of Medicare Drug Plans Get Poor Ratings
Federal officials have changed the evaluation system to include more quality measures and plans that don’t meet standards in three years will face expulsion.
2 Percent Medicare Cut Nothing To Sneeze At
Medicare might fare better than other health care programs if the congressional super committee fails to agree on a deficit-reduction package and automatic cuts kick in, but even 2 percent is a big problem when it comes on top of other recent hits, warn Rick Pollack, executive vice president of the American Hospital Association, and […]
Report: Savings of $125B Possible for Coordinating Care of Dual Eligibles
The federal government could save $125 billion over ten years by requiring all people who get both Medicare and Medicaid – dual eligibles – to enroll in team-based coordinated care programs, according to a report written by Emory University’s Kenneth Thorpe and funded by America’s Health Insurance Plans. States could save $34 billion, and the […]
HHS Pushes Federal-State Partnerships For Insurance Exchanges
The federal government is worried that dozens of states may opt out of running these insurance marketplaces and leave that job for Washington.
Blue Cross Plans Push HHS To Release Regs By Early 2012
Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are particularly unhappy with recent regulations governing insurance exchanges. Insurers want time to build benefit structures and create complex health information technology systems so they can be ready for government testing by the end of 2012.
MedPAC Preparing Doc Fix Plan – With Offsets
Even before MedPAC finalizes a long-term doc fix proposal, the complicated – and expensive – task is proving difficult. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress on Medicare payment policy, is drafting a plan to permanently replace the program’s current method for paying physicians. It intends to get a proposal to Capitol Hill in October, […]
Actuaries To ‘Super Committee’: Slow Overall Health Spending, Not Just Medicare
The deficit reduction “super committee” should act to slow the growth of health care spending overall – not just in Medicare – as it rolls up its sleeves, says the American Academy of Actuaries. “Achieving long-term sustainability for Medicare will require slowing the growth in overall health spending, not simply shifting costs from one payer […]
Washington Shuffle: John Rother And Ralph Neas
Updated at 10:30 a.m. John Rother, who around Washington is considered the heart of the seniors group AARP, is moving on. After 27 years there, Rother, who has been a key advocacy strategist at AARP, will become president and CEO of the National Coalition for Health Care. Ironically, he’s changing jobs just months before he […]
Sweating The Details: Health Reform Supporters Fret Over HHS Rules
Some consumer and patient advocates worry that the administration is bending too much toward insurers and employers when it issues new health regulations.
Reaching Out To Legal Immigrants Who Need Health Care
For the first time the Department of Health and Human Services is trying to help eligible legal immigrants sign up for programs like Medicaid, sometimes by going to health fairs in immigrant neighborhoods.
Candidate Perry’s Prescription: Medical Malpractice Reform
Just a few weeks into his campaign, Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry isn’t talking a whole lot about health care, except to criticize President Obama for last year’s law. And he’s not considered a health care expert. But he’s is passionate on one point: Fixing the nation’s health care system must include a […]
How Would Perry Reform Health Care If President?
Republican presidential candidates are often careful to not reveal during primaries how they would change health care in America, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry is no exception. But examining Perry’s legislative record gives a glimpse into just what he’d change if elected.
Pawlenty Points To Minn. Health Law As Model For U.S.
The former governor says he “passed health care reform the right way. No mandates. No takeovers.” But critics argue that it is unclear if the law will lower costs and it does little to expand insurance coverage.
Trends To Watch For Curbing Health Costs
Industry mergers, doctor-hospital cooperation, new payment models are among the changes identified by six health care experts.
Deficit vs. Medicare: Republicans At Odds
A poll released Thursday revealed significant discrepancy among Republicans who were asked whether it’s more important to reduce the federal budget deficit or to maintain Medicare and Social Security benefits. Not surprisingly, it was all about money. In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, more affluent Republicans favored reducing the deficit, while lower […]
Reischauer Moving On, But Not from Health Issues
Robert D. Reischauer, who has headed the Urban Institute since 2000, announced today that he is moving on from the think tank, but that may mean more time for health care policy issues. Without the responsibilities of running Urban, he said in an interview, he expects to have more time to “contribute in a real way […]
