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Medicare

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What does the health reform law do to try to control costs?

What does the health reform law do to try to control costs?

The new healthcare reform law will extend health insurance to 34 million uninsured Americans, but what does it do to try to control costs?

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Doctor inspects mammogram. Photo by Bill Branson/NCI

Health law expands Medicare coverage of preventive care

Covered services include mammograms and colorectal cancer screening, bone mass measurement and nutritional counseling.

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Healthcare reform bolsters Medicare’s finances — Obama

Healthcare reform bolsters Medicare’s finances — Obama

Law also helps seniors cope with Medicare drug benefit “doughnut hole” and will reduce seniors medical costs in coming years, President says.

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New Medicare report: is it based on a rosy scenario?

New Medicare report: is it based on a rosy scenario?

Virtually all the projected improvement in Medicare’s long-run outlook stems from a big bet on hospitals and doctors becoming more efficient and productive.

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Support for health law remains steady while opposition drops

Support for health law remains steady while opposition drops

Overall support remained stable since the June survey, with about half the public expressing a favorable view of the overhaul, the poll found.

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Photo by nyuszika

Two important pocketbook questions for seniors

When am I going to be able to start collecting benefits under the law’s new long-term-care program? When will the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap close?

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What healthcare reform means for seniors on Medicare — Seattle Times

What healthcare reform means for seniors on Medicare — Seattle Times

In Sunday’s Seattle Times health reporter Carol Ostrom explains how changes in Medicare mandated by the new health reform law will affect seniors.

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KHN: Week in Review

KHN: Week in Review

KaiserHealthNews’ Stephanie Stapleton wraps up the health policy news of the week out of Washington, D.C.

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How to stop health fraud

How to stop health fraud

Every year, the Medicare and Medicaid lose an estimated $65 billion to criminals who defraud the health care system, says fraud expert Lou Saccoccio.

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Companies get help to insure early retirees

Companies get help to insure early retirees

A $5 billion program will help companies to offer coverage to early retirees, for whom it can be difficult to get insurance until they’re eligible for Medicare.

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Law could help hospice patients continue aggressive treatments

Law could help hospice patients continue aggressive treatments

Advocates say change may encourage people terminal illnesses to take advantage of hospice care earlier.

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Medicare Advantage plans earn so-so quality grades

Medicare Advantage plans earn so-so quality grades

Less than a fourth of the roughly 11 million people in Medicare Advantage plans belong to plans with four- or five-star quality ratings.

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Dr. Berwick

View: Berwick a good choice to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

According to Berwick, in a transformational health care system there are no needless deaths, no needless pain, no delays, no helplessness, and no waste.

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Dr. Berwick

Q&A: Don Berwick — quality improvement expert

Quality improvement expert reported to be Obama’ pick for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services post.

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Drug prices rise for seniors who reach Medicare part D coverage gap

Drug prices rise for seniors who reach Medicare part D coverage gap

Seniors who hit the coverage gap in their Medicare drug plans and must use their own money to buy drugs are facing price jumps far outpacing inflation.

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Top Medicare drug plans boost prices 10 percent on average

Top Medicare drug plans boost prices 10 percent on average

Premiums in the top-10 drug plans rose from $31.14 a month in 2009 to $34.30 this year.

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Full Text: Obama’s health care proposal

Full Text: Obama’s health care proposal

Plan includes insurance mandate and a promise to “end discrimination” from pre-existing conditions.

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Why are fewer patients enrolling in hospice?

Why are fewer patients enrolling in hospice?

Some hospice executives say the poor economy may also be driving doctors to hold on to patients longer.

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As Congress shifts its focus to jobs, the uninsured seek solutions

As Congress shifts its focus to jobs, the uninsured seek solutions

Fernando Arriola, a contractor in New Orleans, can’t get coverage so he’s now working to set up a clinic for the uninsured.

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Government health spending to top private sector by 2012

Government health spending to top private sector by 2012

Nation’s health spending as a share of the economy jumped in 2009 by 1.1 points to 17.3 percent, largest leap yet.

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Why public support for health care faltered

Why public support for health care faltered

What choices did Democrats make that hurt the chances health reform will pass?

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View: It’s time to coordinate care for the disabled and frail elderly

View: It’s time to coordinate care for the disabled and frail elderly

Organizing care is especially important for the frail elderly, who may have multiple chronic diseases.

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Congress and Medicare: Letting go is hard to do

Congress and Medicare: Letting go is hard to do

Can Congress bring itself to surrender power over a program as politically sensitive as Medicare?

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Democrats’ ideas to expand Medicare raise hackles of doctors, hospitals, insurers

Democrats’ ideas to expand Medicare raise hackles of doctors, hospitals, insurers

A Medicare buy-in is part of a tentative agreement between a group of 10 moderate and liberal Democrats

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Seniors can often save hundreds of dollars a year by switching Medicare drug plans

Seniors can often save hundreds of dollars a year by switching Medicare drug plans

Medicare’s easy-to-use “plan finder” allows seniors to plug in their medications and find the lowest cost plan.

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Bipartisan support builds for commission to curb health costs

Bipartisan support builds for commission to curb health costs

Commission would draft proposals to control the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security

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Medicare experiments to curb costs seldom implemented on a broad scale

Medicare experiments to curb costs seldom implemented on a broad scale

Even if the experiments cut costs, odds are lessons won’t be applied.

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Bills would seek to close the drug benefit "donut hole"

In health debate, both sides vie for seniors’ support

“Seniors are incredibly important politically.”

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Source: Congressional Budget Office

Curbing Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spending to “Bend the Cost Curve”

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for 40% of all federal spending, other than interest on the debt.

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Advocates Urge Action Now To ‘Fix’ Medicare Doctor Payments

Advocates Urge Action Now To ‘Fix’ Medicare Doctor Payments

Bill that would eliminate a 12-year-old formula that reduces Medicare payments to doctors when their costs exceed targets stalls.

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