Medicaid

The Dangers of Polypharmacy, and the Ever-Mounting Pile of Pills

Taking a Fresh Look at Nutrition for Older Adults
New paradigms are needed to address our growing understanding of the physiology of aging and how it affects the nutrient needs for older adults. (Liz Seegert/Covering Health)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 5, 2016)—In conjunction with the President’s visit to the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule to strengthen access to mental health and substance use services for people with Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, aligning with protections already required of private health plans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 5, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Program changes for 2017 that seek to provide stable payments to plans, and make improvements to the program for plans that provide high quality care to the most vulnerable enrollees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 31, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week it will test whether a new payment model for nursing facilities and practitioners will further reduce avoidable hospitalizations, lower combined Medicare and Medicaid spending and improve the quality of care received by nursing facility residents.

Medicare Proposes Expansion of Counseling Program for People at Risk of Diabetes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2016)—The clock is ticking for the next round of cuts for providers in rural, non-bid areas: the July 1 cuts are  just 2,719 hours away. In hopes of stemming these cuts before they cause further harm to providers and patients, AAHomecare has been working with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to stop the second cut so Congress can thoroughly examine the impact CMS’s plan is having.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 2, 2015)—In 2014, per-capita health care spending grew by 4.5 percent and overall health spending grew by 5.3 percent, a study by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published today as a Web First by Health Affairs. Those rates are below most years prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Open Enrollment is just around the corner, and we’re ready to welcome consumers back to HealthCare.gov. Over the last few months, our team has been hard at work, applying lessons learned and taking steps to make enrollment quicker and smoother for both returning and new customers.