Essence Medicare News Digest

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Medicare News Digest
Current and Archived Medicare News & Information

CHARLES WILLEY, MD Chief Medical Officer Essence Healthcare

Welcome to the Medicare News Digest. Keeping abreast of current Medicare news and information is part of the remedy that lies in a shift toward paying for long term results. Understanding the nuances of Medicare is vital to recommending preventive health and medical treatments for Medicare eligible individuals.

As a practicing primary care physician, I prescribe treatment for patients every day.

I monitor their progress and regularly apply technology to learn of the latest techniques and treatments.

The Medicare News Digest brings headlines (with direct media links) and information from CMS and related sources to healthcare professionals, caregivers and beneficiaries as a community service from Essence Health Care and our participating hospitals/medical centers in Washington.

We appreciate your comments (info@medicarenewsdigest.net) and
your consideration (info@essencehealthcare.com)

Watch the Essence Aging Well Senior Health Advisory video series,
“An Ounce of Prevention”
“Aging Well with Your Doctor”
“Aging Well with Medicines”
“Aging Well with Weight Management”

Seattle Times
July 16, 2008
Congress readily blocks Bush's veto of Medicare bill
Acting with unusual speed, Congress overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's veto Tuesday of a bill averting a Medicare pay cut for doctors.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?

Seattle Times
July 9, 2008
Medicare paid claims listing dead docs' ID
Congressional investigators said Tuesday that Medicare had paid tens of millions of dollars to suppliers using identification numbers of doctors who died years ago.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgibin/PrintStory.pl?document_id

New York Times
July 13, 2008
Long-Term Fix Is Elusive in Medicare Payments Top of Form
Congress has voted to block a cut in Medicare payments to doctors but has done nothing to solve the fundamental problem that caused the cut, and the issue will come back to haunt the next president and the next Congress, lawmakers and health policy experts say.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/washington/13medicare.html

CMS Office of Public Affairs
July 11, 2008
NEW REPORT SHOWS CMS PILOT PROGRAM SAVING NEARLY $700 MILLION IN IMPROPER MEDICARE PAYMENTS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released a new report offering fresh evidence that the recovery audit contractors (RACs) pilot program is successfully identifying improper payments. The findings will also help the agency improve the program as it is expanded nationwide within two years, officials say.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?

KING5-TV
July 7, 2008
Cuts to Medicare could mean trouble for many
Last week, Medicare cut payments to doctors by more than 10 percent. The president temporarily froze the cuts, but if Congress doesn't act, those cuts will take effect. KING 5's Rob Piercy shows how that could leave people without a doctor to care for them.
http://www.king5.com/video/?z=y&nvid=261104

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
July 15, 2008
GAO Recommends That Medicare Require Prior Authorization for Medical Imaging Services at Physician OfficesMedicare spending on medical imaging increased to $14 billion from 2000 to 2006, and CMS should require prior authorization for imaging services to discourage physicians from ordering the tests for personal profit rather than patient benefit, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53300

Senior Journal
July 14, 2008
Senior Citizens that Bring Companions to Medical Visits are More Satisfied with Care
Companions are a valuable quality of care resource that could enhance the experience for millions of vulnerable Americans
http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Medicare/2008/200807
14-2-SenCitThatBring.htm
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