Medicare Medicaid Category

Medicare & Medicaid

News articles in this section include actions by federal regulators like the CMS and HHS, as well as information on Medicare and state Medicaid coverage and benefits.

2019 MLR Rebate Update

Private insurance companies are expecting to pay out a record of at least $1.3 billion in rebates to consumers this fall based on their share of premium revenues devoted to health care expenses in recent years, surpassing the previous record high of $1.1 billion in 2012, according to a new KFF analysis.

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Here’s Why the USA Should Pay Us: Health Insurers to Supreme Court

Health insurers are now pleading with the U.S. Supreme Court to get it to make the rest of the federal government to pay $12.4 billion in Affordable Care Act (ACA) risk corridors program bills.

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CA Democrats Try Again to Provide Health Care to Needy Undocumented Seniors

Democratic legislators are advancing a bill that aims to provide free health care to low-income undocumented seniors — an idea that they floated earlier this year, but which failed to make it into the state budget because of concerns over its cost.

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California Senate Passes Bill That Would Restrict Dialysis Profits

Despite 52 amendments added to the legislation just last week, the California Senate voted 21-19 on Sept. 9 to accept the changes and approve A.B. 290, a bill aimed at restricting dialysis provider profits in the state and limiting the use of third-party payers, like the American Kidney Fund.

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Nevada Has Fewer Uninsured, But State Still Ranks High

Nevada saw a 30 percent drop in the number of uninsured residents between 2009 and 2017 as a result of federal health care reform, but the latest data show its uninsured rate at the end of that period was still the sixth highest in the nation.

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Medicare Plan Finder Upgrade: Will Brokers Need to Keep Hard Copy RX Lists?

The CMS on Tuesday launched a redesigned Medicare Plan Finder to help Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers shop for and compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, the first major update to the most popular tool in a decade. The changes include an improved mobile-friendly design, as 25% of beneficiaries accessed the plan finder via mobile devices in 2018 and that number is growing quickly.

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IRS Says Reinstating ACA Insurance Tax Would Cost Insurers $15.5B in 2020

The Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday published a notice asserting that health insurance companies face a $15.5 billion tax bill in 2020 if the ACA's health insurance tax resumes as planned.

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California Surprise Billing Law Takes Spotlight in Federal Fight

In the battle over what Congress should do to end surprise medical bills, both sides of the debate are pointing to California's experience—and drawing different conclusions. A law enacted in September 2016 put a cap on out-of-network charges, tied either to the median in-network contracted rates with insurers or 125% of Medicare—whichever is higher.

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ACA Coverage Not Yet Spurring Earlier Retirements By Older Workers

If older workers have access to health care outside the workplace, do they choose to retire rather than keep working? Employers struggling to fill vacancies in a tight labor market might be wondering, concerned that the pool of older workers they have to draw on is shrinking. However, such does not appear to be the case.

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Industry Voices – What to Expect On Pending Healthcare Legislation When Congress Returns From Recess

When the House and Senate return from summer recess, surprise billing, drug pricing, and the so-called Cadillac tax are among the key healthcare issues that Congress wants to address.

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