Bonus Pre-Test for ACOsThe Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) reported that half of the ten physical groups testing the Medicare bonus plan for quality and spending control earned money for the fourth year in a five-year experiment. This bonus plan is a pre-test for accountable care organizations (ACOs) which will start in 2012 under the health care reform law. In order to earn a bonus, doctors must cut spending by 2% after that the physician groups may claim up to 80% of savings up to 5% and Medicare keeps the rest. The American Hospital Association urges ACOs to be more lenient with their requirements, since only half of the groups received bonuses. ACO regulations are expected to be released in January with one of the physician groups describe the bonus plan as a "valuable learning experience.” The CMS hoping to include these 10 physician groups in the Medicare ACO under health care reform. Woodmen of the World Plan N Released in OhioEffective December 15, 2010 Woodmen of the World Plan N is available in Ohio – please see the Ohio Notification and Ohio Rates or call 1-800-998-7715 to get contracted. Forethought Medicare Supplement Filed in GA, MN, NE, NV, ND, SD, and TNForethought Medicare Supplement is pleased to announce its expansion to the following states: Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Also, Forethought is currently available in 11 states, including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia. Contact PSM now to add this great product to your senior portfolio.Happy HolidaysFrom all of us at Precision Senior Marketing we want to wish all of our agents the happiest of holiday seasons. PSM will be closed both Friday, December 24, 2010 and Friday, December 31, 2010. Thus, our blog with the latest senior market insurance industry news will resume January 7, 2011.Here’s to a prosperous partnership in 2011!
Sources: KHN, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ModernHealthCare |
Medicare Blog | Medicare News | Medicare Information
Health Care Reform Bill Struck Down by VA Judge
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Dec 17, 2010 @ 10:07 AM
Tags: senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Medicare News, health insurance industry, Woodmen of the World Medicare Supplement, health care reform, Forethought Medicare Supplement
Further Delaying Medicare Pay-Cuts for Doctors
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Dec 10, 2010 @ 11:16 AM
Fears of Possible Backlash to ACOsBeginning in 2012 accountable care organizations (ACOs), which are groups of doctors and hospitals that coordinate efficient, quality care to Medicare patients, will be formed. This week the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) warns that there might be a backlash in the ACO-assignment process, with beneficiaries feeling pushed into certain managed care without seeing any benefits in the change. In order to entice beneficiaries, they might need to offer incentives like reduced beneficiary cost sharing or sharing in the savings; as well as, offering the choice to switch from an assigned primary care provider to another not in the ACO program. Also, the American Medical Association said the government needs to make safe harbors from antitrust enforcement and anti-kickback laws as currently laws favor hospital-based systems with employed physicians as opposed to small physician practices. Cold and Flu What Works and What Falls ShortAs winter begins in the next few weeks, cold and flu season is out in full force, which puts a damper on our busy schedules. Emily Sohn and Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H.'s research on what works and what falls short is good to keep in mind as your throat becomes itchy. The first suggestion of what works is Vitamin D. Laboratory studies have indicated that Vitamin D may help your immune system to identify and destroy bacteria and viruses that can make us sick. However, the Institute of Medicine released a report on November 30th stating that Vitamin D is best for bone health and there is not yet enough evidence that improves immunity and reduces infection. Still, many experts recommend a vitamin D supplement or you can also get it from fatty fish, fortified milk, and from the sun. Another suggestion to try is green tea, which has potent plant antioxidants that gives it immune-boosting effects. Lab studies suggest that polyphenols called catechins may kill influenza viruses and to maximize the benefits you should use below-boiling water, steeping green tea no more than a couple of minutes, and adding only a little lemon or honey to help the bitterness (adding milk will bind the polphenols, making them no longer effective). Probiotics (or “good bacteria") have been shown to suppress the bad bacteria and activate the immune system when they reach the lower intestine. However, although the level probiotics boost the immune system is low, you can help by eating yogurts or kefir labeled with a "Live & Active Cultures" seal. The last suggestion is soluble fiber, which can help fight inflammation. Eating a lot of citrus fruits, apples, carrots, beans, and oats helped mice in a recent study from Brain, Behavior, and Immunity recover from a bacterial infection in half the time than the mice that ate a mixed fiber diet. The two things that fall short are Airborn and Glaceau's Vitamine water "Defense." Airborn contains excess of 1667% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C. With the exception of smokers, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and the elderly most people get enough of the nutrients (vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium) in the supplement with the food we eat. Adding more to our diet is not always better; in fact, it can be ineffective. Additionally Glaceau's Vitamine water “Defense" claims to be formulated with the nutrients required for optimal functioning of the immune system; however, a 20-ounce bottle contains 150% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C. The bottle of water also has 125 calories. Forethought Released in TexasEffective December 10, 2010 Forethought is released in Texas - please see the Texas Rates and Application or call 1-800-998-7715 to get contracted.
Sources: KHN, The Associated Press, The Hill, EatingWell |
Tags: senior market news, Medicare Supplement, health insurance news, industry news
Debt Reduction Plan Likely to Fall Short on Votes
Posted by Lauren Hidalgo on Fri, Dec 03, 2010 @ 10:25 AM
The High Price for Retirement Health CareOResearch from the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) shows that sixty-five year olds who retire this year need to have saved more than $100,000 to cover their out-of-pocket health care costs including co-pays, premiums, and other non-reimbursed medical expenses while on Medicare. The researchers also revealed that costs are likely to be more for women (approximately $152,000) than men (approximately $124,000), since women tend to live longer than their male counterparts. Researchers believe that the health care reform bill will help cut some of those costs; however, the costs will remain high for expenses from the retiree. The EBRI research warns that Americans should be setting aside money for this expense and that four in ten Americans plan to delay retirement because of high costs and low income. Civil Right to Live at HomeThe right to live at home has been established in law and federal policy, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which bans the discrimination on the basis of disability. Yet states are slow to create new programs to allow people who live in institutions such as nursing homes and state hospitals, but can live successfully on their own, do so. With states facing record budget cuts, and the federal policy being written for states to do home care within their existing budgets, Medicaid directors are nervous about the new policy that living at home is a civil right questioning where state responsibility ends and individual responsibility starts. Directors also question how they can assure people get good care at home, as sending inspectors to thousands of homes is way more involved than sending to a few nursing homes. Still, nearly 400,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list across the country hoping to have the choice to live at home and receive care. Gerber Life Medicare Supplement New Rates for MD, CO, MO, and NHEffective December 1, 2010 new rates for Maryland – please see the MD Notification and MD Rates. Effective December 15, 2010 new rates for Colorado and Missouri – please see the CO Notification, CO Rates, MO Notification, and MO Rates. Effective January 1, 2011 new rates for New Hampshire – please see the NH Notification and NH Rates. New Deductibles for 2011 Now AvailableMarketing materials that reflect the new 2011 deductibles are now available. Please consult your marketing director for more information. Or, call 1-800-998-7715 to get contracted for 2011 today! Sources: KHN, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Hill, NPR |
Tags: senior market news, Medicare Supplement, Senior Market, senior insurance market news, health care reform, Gerber Life Medicare Supplement, Medicaid