The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) capped out-of-pocket costs for insulin medications for people with Medicare. Coinsurances and copays for insulin covered under Part D have been limited to $35 a month for a month’s supply of each medication since January 1. Starting Saturday, July 1, beneficiaries whose insulin is covered […]
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two new data tools as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing initiative to increase transparency around the corporate ownership and operation of nursing homes. The announcement builds on reforms CMS launched last fall to make it easier for researchers […]
Late last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report finding Medicare often overpaid for physician services when beneficiaries were admitted to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or hospital. Through audits, OIG found that these overpayments cost the program more than […]
During most of the COVID-19 pandemic, states were allowed to keep people continuously enrolled in Medicaid in exchange for enhanced federal funding. This flexibility ended on March 31. States are on different operational timelines, though all have or will soon begin redetermining Medicaid eligibility for current enrollees. Significant Medicaid losses are […]
For many low-income Medicare beneficiaries, the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program (also called “Extra Help”) can be a lifeline, helping them afford needed prescription drugs. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), more enrollees—those with incomes between 135% and 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL)—may qualify for full assistance beginning […]
Heat can be hazardous, leading to more deaths than any other weather-related phenomenon. While some parts of the U.S. are warm year-round, the summer months bring particular and more widespread heat hazards. According to Heat.gov, a federal clearinghouse for information on extreme heat, 41,490,714 Americans are under heat alerts today, […]
The end of continuous Medicaid enrollment due to COVID-19 is projected to cause significant coverage losses nationally as states recertify eligibility for Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates as many as 15 million people could lose coverage as states […]
This week, the pharmaceutical giant Merck sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), challenging Medicare’s authority to negotiate drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Merck claims the IRA’s Negotiation Program violates their Fifth Amendment rights because it allows the government to “take” their private property […]
This week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Office for Older Americans released an issue spotlight on medical billing and collections showing that many older adults have unpaid medical bills and are in collections. This is despite most older adults having health insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid. The findings […]
This week, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a report summarizing the steps HHS has taken to “improv[e] the provision of meaningful access to language assistance services to persons with limited English proficiency” and the impact of those actions. The […]
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