For no good reason, our federal government pays Medicare Advantage plans a set amount per enrollee regardless of the amount these health plans spend on care and regardless of whether they...
Diane Archer
Psilocybin found to relieve depression for extended period
A small amount of psilocybin can relieve depression for an extended period, according to a new study published in JAMA. Annalisa Merelli reports in Stat News that psilocybin could be a promising...
Medicare names 10 drugs subject to price negotiation
It’s beyond even my imagination that Medicare’s ability to negotiate just 10 drug prices as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act is a big deal. There are more than 19,000 prescription drugs...
Medicare stronger than expected, per person spending has barely...
A new review of Medicare spending over the last several decades shows a leveling off in Medicare spending per person since 2010, reports The New York Times. No one knows why exactly. Given that the...
Marijuana appears to offer several benefits…and risks
Sanjay Gupta writes for CNN.com about his change of heart on the benefits of marijuana, notwithstanding its risks. In traveling the world, Gupta spoke directly to people for whom marijuana was the...
If you’re billed for a Medicare procedure, you likely should...
Phil Galewitz reports from Kaiser Health News on Thomas Greene, a patient with Medicare, whose anesthesiologists billed him directly for a procedure because Medicare would not pay the bill. But, as...
Should you allow your health plan into your home?
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and are in fair or poor health, it is more than likely that your health plan will ask whether it can do a home risk assessment. Should you allow your...
This Fall, talk to your doctor about getting an RSV vaccine
It’s just about that time of year again, when flu season hits. This year, there’s a new vaccine, covered in full under Medicare Part D, which helps prevent coughs and shortness of breath...
Government can easily cut $500 billion in Medicare Advantage...
In an opinion piece for The Boston Globe, Andrew Ryan and David Meyers expose the waste and fraud in Medicare Advantage, the part of Medicare administered by corporate health insurers. While our...
Ohio and Virginia hospitals warn residents they could stop...
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan—a health plan offered by a corporate health insurer—or thinking about enrolling in one, you should be wondering whether you will be able to get...