Elderly people whose health care is covered by Medicare report fewer problems and higher satisfaction with their care than younger patients whose health insurance is provided by their employers. Although the older Medicare beneficiaries have lower incomes and poorer health than the employer-covered group, they reported less difficulty paying their bills, fewer problems finding medical care, and higher overall satisfaction with that care.

Information comes from an analysis of the Commonwealth Fund 2007 Biennial Health Insurance Survey, a nationally representative telephone survey of 3,501 adults age nineteen and older living in United States.   Even counting those who refused to participate and those who could not be reached by phone, the survey’s response rate was almost 50 percent. Read the rest of this entry »

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued a final National Coverage Decision on May 12, 2009 denying Medicare payments for CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) to screen for colorectal cancer.

Despite an overwhelming number of comments urging that CMS overturn their provisional determination not to cover the test, the agency remained unconvinced that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that CT colonography was appropriate to screen for colorectal cancer.

Almost 95 percent of 357 comments supported CT colonography screening, including comments from the American Cancer Society and C3:Colorectal Cancer Coalition.

Briefly,

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concludes the following:

The evidence is inadequate to conclude that CT colonography is an appropriate colorectal cancer screening test under § 1861(pp)(1) of the Social Security Act.  CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening remains noncovered.

Senate Finance Committee Chair, Max Baucus (D-MT), has proposed a health care overhaul plan that would allow U.S. residents ages 55 to 64 to buy into the Medicare system. The provision calls for a higher monthly premium for beneficiaries younger than age 65, but would offer the same benefits. Baucus said the buy-in option would remain available until the government develops a more comprehensive plan to address health care reform. Read the rest of this entry »

On February 11, 2009 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed national coverage decision memorandum not to pay for computed tomographic colonography (so-called virtual colonoscopy) to screen for colorectal cancer.

The evidence is inadequate to conclude that CT colonography is an appropriate colorectal cancer screening test under §1861(pp)(1) of the Social Security Act. CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening remains noncovered.

The national coverage decision will not be final until 30 days after February 11 to allow for public comments.  Individuals and organizations concerned about the proposed decision can submit a comment online. However, CMS does not now cover screening CT colonography.

IMPORTANT: If you want to submit a comment to CMS online, you MUST click on and open the CMS PHI Posting Policy and then check off that you have read it.  If you don’t click on the underlined link, you cannot enter a check mark, your personal information, or your comment. Read the rest of this entry »

Premiums for Medicare Part B coverage for doctor visits and other outpatient costs will remain the same in 2009 as they are this year.  Participants will pay $96.40 each month.  The Part B deductible will also remain the same at $135. Read the rest of this entry »