Tag: Medicare Beneficiaries

medicare-beneficiaries-saw-higher-prices-at-provider-based-facilities

Medicare, Beneficiaries Saw Higher Prices at Provider-Based Facilities

The Medicare program and Medicare beneficiaries could have saved a combined $1.6 billion if provider-based facilities charged the same payment rate as freestanding facilities, OIG found. Medicare and its beneficiaries paid significantly higher prices at provider-based facilities than they would have paid to freestanding facilities for the same services, according to a report from the […]
cms-aims-eliminate-delays-new-medicare-coverage-and-expand-special-enrollment-periods

CMS aims to eliminate delays in new Medicare coverage, expand special enrollment periods

The Biden administration wants to close the gap before new Medicare beneficiaries can get coverage and expand use of special enrollment periods. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule Friday that updated Medicare enrollment and eligibility rules. One of the key proposals is to provide Medicare coverage a month immediately […]
medicare-patients-received-54.5m-office-visits-via-telehealth-in-2020

Medicare Patients Received 54.5M Office Visits Via Telehealth in 2020

Office visits represented 48 percent of all telehealth services used in the first year of the pandemic, making it the service most accessed via telehealth, federal data shows. Medicare beneficiaries most often used telehealth for office visits in 2020, receiving 54.5 million virtual office visits in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to […]
beware-proportion-of-medicare-fee-for-service-beneficiaries-is-shrinking

Beware: Proportion of Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries is Shrinking

The volume of Medicare beneficiaries has been slowing growing while the distribution of Medicare plans is quickly changing. Medicare provides federal healthcare coverage for Americans 65 or older, or anyone with end-stage renal disease, regardless of age, as well as certain people with disabilities under the age of 65 who often also have Medicaid benefits […]
more-medicare-advantage-plans-will-offer-non-medical-benefits-2022-finds-avalere

More Medicare Advantage plans will offer nonmedical benefits in 2022, finds Avalere

  More plans will offer meals, nutrition, transportation or in-home support services at a $0 premium in 2022. Ahead of the annual election period, which began on October 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published information on MA and Part D plan (PDP) premiums, benefit offerings and star ratings. Avalere analyzed that data […]
most-medicare-beneficiaries-dont-compare-coverage-options-during-open-enrollment

Most Medicare beneficiaries don’t compare coverage options during open enrollment

Since not shopping around can have an impact on enrollees’ coverage and costs, CMS recommends they review and compare plans each year. The numbers are similar across both Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare, with 68% of MA beneficiaries saying they don’t compare medical plans, and 73% of those in traditional Medicare claiming the same. The […]
medicare-advantage-covid-19-hospitalizations-were-lower-than-ffs

Medicare Advantage COVID-19 Hospitalizations Were Lower Than FFS

Medicare Advantage coronavirus-related hospitalizations were lower than fee-for-service  Medicare’s rates from January through November 2020, a Better Medicare Alliance report found. ATI Advisory compiled the report on behalf of Better Medicare Alliance using data from the MCBS Fall 2020 Community Supplement Public Use Files and Medicare Claims Data. Overall, Medicare beneficiaries experienced hospitalization for coronavirus […]