Medicare Officials Proceed with an Controversial Bidding System

July 8th, 2010

Medicare officials are planning on purchasing medical equipment in Western PA under a bidding system; this change could impact thousands of Medicare recipients.

Philadelphia Seniors Attend “Tele-Town Hall”

June 10th, 2010

Live broadcast of Obama’s address in nearby town concerning medicare attracts Philadelphia senior citizens, specifically addresses the cost of medicine under medicare.

Even though healthcare reform is working on closing the Medicare “doughnut hole,” it’s going to be a while

May 24th, 2010

This year, the closing of the gap starts with seniors receiving a one-time $250 rebate when they reach the doughnut hole level.

Pittsburgh area doctors worried about upcoming Medicare reimbursement rate cuts

April 21st, 2010

At issue is the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which uses a formula that determines how much doctors get paid for treating Medicare patients based on a number of cost-related factors including inflation and geographical location, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

PA’s U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy explains Medicare add-on provision to healthcare reform

April 13th, 2010

The additional measure actually passed with bipartisan support.

Despite reassurances, seniors still wary of healthcare reform’s changes to Medicare

April 1st, 2010

Their biggest fear is what the cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates to hospitals mean for their care.

PA’s U.S. Rep. Kanjorski says Medicare is safe with health reform

March 31st, 2010

He recently held a town hall meeting to address seniors’ concerns.

PA’s U.S. Rep. Murphy introduces bill to cut down on gov’t healthcare overpayments

March 12th, 2010

The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act would reduce waste, fraud and abuse resulting from lack of oversight on the part of federal agencies, reports the Bucks County Courier Times.

Geisinger’s prez denies that he’s leaving to become chief of federal agency

February 2nd, 2010

News reports from last week were all but sure that Dr. Glenn Steele Jr. would leave Geisinger to become head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

PA’s U.S. legislators fight for higher Medicare reimbursement rates for northeastern hospitals

January 12th, 2010

Legislation in the House of Representatives would extend payments under the Medicare Wage Index Reclassification for two years, while the Senate’s extension would be for a year.