May 09 Medicare failed to investigate suspicious infection cases from nearly 100 hospitals By Christina Jewett, Kaiser Health News Ninety-six hospitals reported suspicious data on dangerous infections to Medicare officials, but the agency did not follow up or examine any of the cases in depth, according to a report by the Health and Human Services inspector general’s office. Continue reading
May 04 Watch How health care cost and coverage might change for everyone under GOP bill By PBS News Hour House Republicans have pushed through a bill to remake the American health care system in dramatic ways. Lisa Desjardins and Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how coverage and cost would change, and how the… Continue watching
May 04 Can employers make you rely on Medicare and drop their insurance? By Philip Moeller Is it legal for employers to pressure their employees to drop workplace health insurance? Phil Moeller answers that question and more in his weekly column, Ask Phil. Continue reading
May 03 Many seniors who qualify for home-based care under Medicare aren't receiving it. Why? By Philip Moeller A worrisome and growing number of Medicare enrollees have said that they have been denied home-based care even though they are qualified to receive it and it is covered by Medicare. Continue reading
Apr 26 Medicare's contractors approve $41 billion in billing errors. What's being done to fix it? By Philip Moeller Why doesn’t the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services discipline Medicare Administrative Contractors for billing errors?… Continue reading
Apr 19 Does Medicare pay for a home health care provider? By Philip Moeller My mom is in hospice. Could Medicare cover a health aide so she can be home?… Continue reading
Apr 13 For retired expats, the question remains: Should I keep Medicare coverage or not? By Philip Moeller It all depends on the likelihood of their returning to the U.S. and on the duration of their absence, Journalist Philip Moeller said. Continue reading
Apr 08 This community has slipped through the cracks of the U.S. health care system By Helen Branswell, STAT Thousands of people in this northwestern corner of Arkansas, many of them working poor, are from a faraway constellation of islands. In all but the fewest cases they will never be able to qualify for Medicaid or Medicare under current… Continue reading
Apr 05 Column: Why we need to save Medicare counseling from the federal chopping block By Philip Moeller Under the Trump administration’s budget proposal, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program's modest $52 million budget would be obliterated by $49 million, leaving the program with only $3 million. Continue reading
Mar 29 What to expect from the major changes coming to popular Medigap plans By Philip Moeller Many of the more than 8 million Medicare enrollees who now have C and F plans will face an important decision in the next two years. Continue reading