Medicare News and Research

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Enrollment news to bank on: Obamacare is still here so it’s time for coverage checkup

The open enrollment period begins in one week for 2018 marketplace coverage, but many consumers are confused about what to expect. No wonder!

24 Oct 2017

UCI researchers aim to identify early indicators of dementia

With $3.8 million in support from the National Institute on Aging, University of California, Irvine neurobiologists are working to identify the early indicators of dementia in older adults as disease-related brain plaques accumulate but before symptoms can be observed.

23 Oct 2017

Amid for-profit surge, rural hospice has offered free care for 40 years

Rose Crumb can't even count the number of people she's helped die. The former nurse, 91, who retired in her mid-80s, considers the question and then shakes her head, her blue eyes sharp above oval spectacles.

20 Oct 2017

Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to choose

As health insurers struggle with shifting government policies and considerable uncertainty, one market remains remarkably stable: Medicare Advantage plans.

19 Oct 2017

Despite GOP efforts to corral Medicaid spending, states expand benefits

While congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump have been seeking major cuts in federal funding of Medicaid, 26 states this year expanded or enhanced benefits and at least 17 plan to do so next year, according to a report released Thursday.

19 Oct 2017

On back roads of Appalachia’s coal country, mental health services are as rare as jobs

Every other month, Tanya Nelson travels 32 miles from the heart of Appalachia's coal country for an appointment with the nearest psychiatrist for therapy and to renew prescriptions. But the commute, which should take less than an hour through the winding mountain roads of southern West Virginia, consumes her entire day.

17 Oct 2017

A few pointers to help save money and avoid the strain of Medicare enrollment

Older or disabled Americans with Medicare coverage have probably noticed an uptick in mail solicitations from health insurance companies, which can mean only one thing: It’s time for the annual Medicare open enrollment.

17 Oct 2017

Cascade of costs could push new gene therapy above $1 million per patient

Outrage over the high cost of cancer care has focused on skyrocketing drug prices, including the $475,000 price tag for the country's first gene therapy, Novartis' Kymriah, a leukemia treatment approved in August.

17 Oct 2017

Social security giveth, medical costs taketh away

Retirees spent on average more than a third of their Social Security benefits on out-of-pocket medical costs in 2014, according to a recent study. Even after factoring in other sources of income, medical spending still took a substantial 18 percent bite out of seniors' total retirement income, the study found.

13 Oct 2017

California slaps surcharge on ACA plans as Trump remains coy on subsidies

California's health exchange said Wednesday it has ordered insurers to add a surcharge to certain policies next year because the Trump administration has yet to commit to paying a key set of consumer subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

11 Oct 2017

Medicare plans place few restrictions on coverage of prescription opioids, Yale study finds

Medicare plans place few restrictions on the coverage of prescription opioids, despite federal guidelines recommending such restrictions, a new Yale study finds. The research results highlight an untapped opportunity for Medicare formularies to limit opioid prescribing, the researchers said.

10 Oct 2017

Shifting toward novel pricing models that closely link drug's price to its value

One of the health care issues about which seemingly all Americans agree: Prescription drug prices have skyrocketed. And they keep going higher.

9 Oct 2017

Analysis of survey data finds no significant racial differences in quality of end-of-life care

An analysis of survey data found no significant racial differences in various aspects of the quality of end-of-life care, although survey respondents reported deficiencies in the quality of end-of-life care for both black and white patients who died, including unmet symptom needs, problems with communication and less than optimal decision-making, according to an article published by JAMA Internal Medicine.

9 Oct 2017

Increased fFN testing could help provide better care for women with symptoms of preterm labor

A new study found that women with symptoms of preterm labor who were discharged from the hospital without a fetal fibronectin (fFN) test were more likely to deliver their baby prematurely within three days compared to women who were discharged with an fFN test, Hologic, Inc. announced today.

6 Oct 2017

Despite boost in social security, rising Medicare Part B costs leave seniors in bind

Millions of seniors will soon be notified that Medicare premiums for physicians' services are rising and likely to consume most of the cost-of-living adjustment they'll receive next year from Social Security.

5 Oct 2017

Low-cost, high-volume services contribute the most to unnecessary health spending, study suggests

Low-cost, high-volume health services account for a high percentage of unnecessary health spending, adding strain to the health care system, new UCLA-led research suggests.

5 Oct 2017

Public health efforts should focus on early treatment of facial cellulitis, study says

Public health efforts regarding facial cellulitis - a sometimes dangerous infection of the skin - should focus on early treatment of the condition, according to a new scientific study.

5 Oct 2017

Podcast: ‘What the Health?’ Congress chips away at health insurance for kids

Oct. 1 marked the official end to this year's effort to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act. But the start of fiscal 2018 also marked the end of the federal authorization for the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program.

4 Oct 2017

Medicaid patients with melanoma more likely to experience surgical treatment delays

A retrospective review of several thousand melanoma cases in North Carolina found that Medicaid patients were more likely to experience surgical treatment delays than patients with private insurance, according to a study by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers.

4 Oct 2017

5 takeaways from Congress’ failure to extend funding for children’s coverage

Congress finally seems ready to take action on the Children’s Health Insurance Program after funding lapsed Sept. 30.

3 Oct 2017

Medicare News and Research

Enrollment news to bank on: Obamacare is still here so it’s time for coverage checkup

UCI researchers aim to identify early indicators of dementia

Amid for-profit surge, rural hospice has offered free care for 40 years

Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to choose

Despite GOP efforts to corral Medicaid spending, states expand benefits

On back roads of Appalachia’s coal country, mental health services are as rare as jobs

A few pointers to help save money and avoid the strain of Medicare enrollment

Cascade of costs could push new gene therapy above $1 million per patient

Social security giveth, medical costs taketh away

California slaps surcharge on ACA plans as Trump remains coy on subsidies

Medicare plans place few restrictions on coverage of prescription opioids, Yale study finds

Shifting toward novel pricing models that closely link drug's price to its value

Analysis of survey data finds no significant racial differences in quality of end-of-life care

Increased fFN testing could help provide better care for women with symptoms of preterm labor

Despite boost in social security, rising Medicare Part B costs leave seniors in bind

Low-cost, high-volume services contribute the most to unnecessary health spending, study suggests

Public health efforts should focus on early treatment of facial cellulitis, study says

Podcast: ‘What the Health?’ Congress chips away at health insurance for kids

Medicaid patients with melanoma more likely to experience surgical treatment delays

5 takeaways from Congress’ failure to extend funding for children’s coverage

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