Tag Archives: Medicare

Hospitals likely upcoding severity levels for Medicare patients, OIG says

Dive Brief: A new report by the HHS Office of Inspector General indicated that inpatient hospital stays have become more expensive to the Medicare program, even before the COVID-19 pandemic began to severely disrupt the U.S. healthcare system a year ago. HHS OIG analyzed Medicare Part A claims for inpatient stays from fiscal year 2014… Read More »

Hospitals charge privately insured patients 250% more than those on Medicare. The gap is growing.

Dive Brief: Privately insured patients pay 247% more at hospitals on average than Medicare patients for the same care, according to a new study by nonprofit think tank RAND. The study, based on 2018 data, shows the gap is increasing from 2017 and 2016, which saw disparities of 230% and 224%, respectively. If private payers had… Read More »

Beneficiaries’ lack of Medicare knowledge could lead to dissatisfaction in plans

More than two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries find their insurance confusing and difficult to understand, according to a recent survey by MedicareAdvantage.com, which also revealed that many don’t grasp basic insurance terminology. The study sample included 1,000 respondents enrolled in Medicare and took place over August 17 to 19. Participants were quizzed about topics ranging from… Read More »

After a year on Medicare, advice for journalists on stories that need to be told

The annual Medicare open enrollment period ends soon.  America’s seniors have faced a blizzard of dismaying news about the program. Here are some excerpts from newsworthy stories that you should be aware of. Excerpt: “The federal government recently redesigned a digital tool that helps seniors navigate complicated Medicare choices, but consumer advocates say it’s malfunctioning… Read More »

Bernie Sanders snaps at Kamala Harris over ‘Medicare for All’ flip-flop

Bernie Sanders subtweeted Kamala Harris after the California senator and fellow Democratic White House hopeful told donors she wasn’t “comfortable” with her Vermont colleague’s “Medicare for All” proposal. “I don’t go to the Hamptons to raise money from billionaires. If I ever visited there, I would tell them the same thing I have said for… Read More »