In 2023, the standard monthly Medicare Part B premium, which covers medical and outpatient care, is $164.90, a monthly decrease of $5.20 from $170.10, for people with annual incomes of $97,000 or...
Diane Archer
Government rules won’t curtail Medicare Advantage bad acts...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency charged with overseeing Medicare, recently released a series of proposed rules intended to limit harmful behavior in Medicare...
2023: Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and costs
Whether you are enrolled in traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare covers the prescription drugs you get from the pharmacy under Medicare Part D. The vast majority of people with...
Chocoholic? Beware of lead and cadmium
If you’re a chocolate lover like me, choosing a good chocolate bar is easier said than done. A new Consumer Reports study finds dangerously high levels of lead and cadmium in some dark...
Non-profit hospital systems compromise patient safety
The New York Times reports on how Ascension, a non-profit hospital chain operating in 16 states and serving millions of patients a year, created its own staffing crisis while building an $18 billion...
Avoid eating processed meats
We all know that ultraprocessed foods—fast food and junk food—are bad for your health. Processed meats appear little better. The New York Times reports on why you should avoid eating processed...
Covid deaths on the rise, particularly among older adults who...
ABC News reports that only one in three older adults have received a Covid 19 booster shot. Not surprisingly, three times more older adults are being hospitalized for Covid 19 than younger adults...
Medicare Advantage plans fail to release data required for...
A recent MedPac presentation details several glaring issues with Medicare Advantage, of which both Congress and all Medicare Advantage enrollees should take careful note. MedPac cannot assess quality...
When will Congress address surprise ambulance bills?
Surprise medical bills are all too common, leaving millions of Americans with health care costs they did not expect to pay. A couple of years ago, Congress passed legislation to end surprise medical...
Government proposes to improve prior authorization process
Since their inception, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have been allowed to develop their own proprietary rules as to when patients need prior authorization–permission from their health...