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Medicare

Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse
Jun 28, 2022

Medicare can halt payments to overpaid provider awaiting appellate court decision

Medicare can halt payments to a Missouri doctor who was allegedly overpaid millions while awaiting an administrative law judge’s decision, ruled the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Apr 23, 2020

Social Security and Medicare funds at risk even before virus

The financial condition of the government’s two biggest benefit programs remains shaky, with Medicare expected to become insolvent in just six years, while Social Security will be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2035, the government said this week. And that’s before factoring what officials acknowledge will be a substantial hit to both programs […]

Dec 13, 2019

Eyeing 2020, House empowers Medicare to negotiate drug costs

Sharpening their 2020 election message, House Democrats have pushed through legislation that would empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and offer new benefits for seniors. The vote along party lines was 230-192. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill would cap Medicare recipients’ out-of-pocket costs for medicines at $2,000 a year. It would use about $360 billion […]

Dec 13, 2019

Eyeing 2020, House empowers Medicare to negotiate drug costs

Sharpening their 2020 election message, House Democrats have pushed through legislation that would empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and offer new benefits for seniors. The vote along party lines was 230-192. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill would cap Medicare recipients’ out-of-pocket costs for medicines at $2,000 a year. It would use about $360 billion […]

Nov 22, 2019

Medicare drug plan finder can steer seniors to higher costs

Medicare’s revamped prescription plan finder can steer unwitting seniors to coverage that costs much more than they need to pay, according to people who help with sign-ups as well as program experts. Serving some 60 million Medicare recipients, the plan finder is the most commonly used tool on Medicare.gov and just got its first major […]

Nov 22, 2019

Medicare drug plan finder can steer seniors to higher costs

Medicare’s revamped prescription plan finder can steer unwitting seniors to coverage that costs much more than they need to pay, according to people who help with sign-ups as well as program experts. Serving some 60 million Medicare recipients, the plan finder is the most commonly used tool on Medicare.gov and just got its first major […]

Nov 5, 2019

1 in 2 seriously ill Medicare enrollees struggles with bills

More than half of seriously ill Medicare enrollees face financial hardships with medical bills, with prescription drug costs the leading problem, according to a study published this week. The study in the journal Health Affairs comes as legislation to curb drug costs for seniors languishes in Congress and the growing financial exposure of patients with […]

Oct 9, 2019

Overhaul is proposed for decades-old Medicare fraud rules

The Trump administration this week proposed overhauling decades-old Medicare rules originally meant to deter fraud and abuse but now seen as a roadblock to coordinating better care for patients. The rules under revision were intended to counter self-dealing and financial kickbacks among service providers such as hospitals, clinics and doctors. Those regulations are now seen […]

Oct 9, 2019

Overhaul is proposed for decades-old Medicare fraud rules

The Trump administration this week proposed overhauling decades-old Medicare rules originally meant to deter fraud and abuse but now seen as a roadblock to coordinating better care for patients. The rules under revision were intended to counter self-dealing and financial kickbacks among service providers such as hospitals, clinics and doctors. Those regulations are now seen […]

Sep 27, 2019

Feds crack Medicare gene test fraud that peddled cheek swabs

Federal agents took down an alleged Medicare fraud scheme Friday that exploited seniors’ curiosity about genetic medicine by enticing them to get their cheeks swabbed for unneeded DNA tests. Medicare was billed about $2 billion. Dubbed “Operation Double Helix,” the crackdown targeted telemarketing companies, doctors and labs, in a joint effort by the FBI, U.S. […]

Sep 27, 2019

Feds crack Medicare gene test fraud that peddled cheek swabs

Federal agents took down an alleged Medicare fraud scheme Friday that exploited seniors’ curiosity about genetic medicine by enticing them to get their cheeks swabbed for unneeded DNA tests. Medicare was billed about $2 billion. Dubbed “Operation Double Helix,” the crackdown targeted telemarketing companies, doctors and labs, in a joint effort by the FBI, U.S. […]

Sep 19, 2019

Nancy Pelosi unveils an ambitious plan to lower drug prices

Putting her stamp on the health care issue that worries consumers the most, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week unveiled an ambitious plan to lower drug prices for seniors on Medicare and younger people with private insurance. Pelosi, D-Calif., would empower Medicare to negotiate prices for the 250 costliest drugs, including insulin. Pharmaceutical companies that […]

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