Medicare News

The issue: Should Americans have the option of getting health insurance from a government plan that competes with private companies? The politics: Many Democrats want to do away with private insurance and replace it with something resembling Medicare coverage for all, but that's not politically feasible.

Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to reduce the cost of drugs for patients and third-party payers.

Critics storm that health care reform is "a cruel hoax and a delusion." Ads in 100 newspapers thunder that reform would mean "the beginning of socialized medicine." The Wall Street Journal's editorial page predicts that the legislation will lead to "deteriorating service." Business groups warn that Washington bureaucrats will invade "the privacy of ...

Both of Florida's senators say there's plenty of room for improvement to the health care reform bill being brought to debate by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

As the U.S. Senate braces for a heated debate about its version of health care reform legislation unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid late Wednesday, U.S. Rep.

From November 15 through December 31, 2009, Medicare beneficiaries can enroll or change their prescription drug or medical plan.

It's an issue that Democrats would rather not deal with as they shape a health care overhaul.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., isn't worried about Democrats getting angry if he votes with Republicans to filibuster healthcare reform legislation.

For years, breast cancer screening clinics have struggled. And that was even before new guidelines this week recommended that women wait longer to begin getting mammograms and have fewer of them.

A comparison of the health care bills before Congress: ___ The Senate Democratic bill : WHO'S COVERED: About 94 percent of legal residents under age 65 compared with 83 percent now.

Joseph Stubbs, President of the American College of Physicians -- the second largest doctors' group in the country -- confirms that "the supply of doctors just won't be there" for the 30 million new patients Barack Obama wants to cover.

As President Obama and Congress craft the largest national health insurance program since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, they insist that the final product will add "not one dime" to the federal deficit.

It is a core tenet of the push to improve American medical care and control its cost: Experts should study the effectiveness of treatments and procedures to determine which work best.

Federal policy on who should get breast cancer screening has not changed, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - Seniors would pay $49 billion in higher premiums over the next decade as a result of legislation headed for a House vote that raises fees for doctors treating Medicare patients, according to an estimate by congressional budget officials.

Senate health care legislation expected this week is likely to include a new long-term care insurance program to help the elderly and the disabled avoid going into nursing homes, Democratic officials say.

More than $98 billion in taxpayer dollars spent by government agencies was wasted, much of it on questionable claims for tax credits and Medicare benefits, representing an increase of $26 billion from the previous year.

There was a lot of buzz yesterday about the report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the impact of health care reform.

Melvin and Sandra Adams are members of Samaritan Ministries International and have benefited from the program at least six times, he said.

Northern Berkshire Healthcare is seeking to partner with a health care organization as it faces a huge loss this fiscal year, with a deficit projected at $8.1 million and no improvement in the economy foreseen.