The landscape of dementia care is shifting. More people with dementia are choosing to stay in their homes. This is a big change from the past, where nursing homes were the go-to option. But this shift brings its own set of challenges. One key player in this change is Medicare-funded home health care. It's becoming a lifeline for many families. But is it enough? The ...
Medicare Part D is a program that helps seniors afford their prescription drugs. It has been a lifeline for many, but the costs can still be high, especially for specialty drugs. These are medications used to treat complex conditions like cancer or multiple sclerosis. The price tags for these drugs can be astronomical, leaving many seniors struggling to pay for their...
Healthcare costs are a hot topic, and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are shaking things up. These plans are private health insurance options that people with Medicare can pick instead of the standard Medicare. They often come with networks of hospitals and doctors, which can change how hospitals set prices for other insurance companies. This is crucial because it affe...
Medicare's involvement in gender-affirming surgery is a topic that deserves a closer look. It's crucial to understand that Medicare does not have a blanket policy for these procedures. Instead, each case is evaluated individually. This approach raises several questions. How many Medicare beneficiaries actually receive these surgeries? The answer is not straightforwa...
The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) has been around for a while. It aims to cut down on healthcare costs. The program uses a group of doctors and hospitals called Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). These groups work together to provide better care and save money. At first, the program showed some success. It managed to reduce healthcare spending a bit. Bu...
Medicare has rules for covering gene tests. These rules are called National Coverage Determinations. They were first put in place in 2018 and then changed in 2020. These rules are for a type of genetic testing known as next-generation sequencing. This testing looks at many genes at once. It can help find out if someone has a higher chance of getting cancer. It can al...
Medicare is a big deal for many people. It helps pay for health care, but how it pays can be confusing. Let's talk about how Medicare handles payments when a team of health care workers is involved. This team might include doctors and other health care professionals, like physician assistants or nurse practitioners. These folks are often called advance practice clini...
The flu shot is a simple and effective way to protect against the flu. However, not everyone is taking advantage of it. Some groups, like older Black and Hispanic adults, are not getting the flu shot as much as they should. This is a worry, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people think about vaccines. Health experts are keeping an eye on this s...
Medicare Advantage (MA) has become a popular choice among seniors. More than half of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen MA over Traditional Medicare (TM). This shift raises questions about the quality of care, especially when it comes to cancer treatment. Radiotherapy is a common treatment for cancer patients. So, it is crucial to compare how often TM and MA use ra...
Veterans have a new option for health coverage. These are called Veteran Medicare Advantage affinity plans, or VMAPs. They are designed to attract veterans, including those who already have the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) coverage. This is a big change. Before this, there wasn't much info on what VMAPs offer or who joins them. There is a lot of confusio...