The recent budget deal and struggles in negotiations over the national debt have handed lawmakers yet another requirement to further slash federal spending, and healthcare price controls are one of the plans being considered to help achieve that goal; forcing seniors to have to pay more for their necessary medications. These Medicare Part D program prescription drug price controls aren’t a new idea, but they have been brought back into the spotlight by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who are the most recent to advocate the…
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Official goals and challenges of U.S. health care reform – A hope for better care, delivery, and costs – Part I
The reforms to healthcare delivery being made by the Affordable Care Act are making an historic attempt to bring its costs under control by improving the quality and efficacy of the system. According to an official fact sheet, among the key reforms being made in this effort are as follows: Rewards for quality Hospitals – this includes the first Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program of its size, which will give funding to more than 3,500 hospitals across the country based on how much they have improved and whether or not they…
Read MoreMedicare open enrollment deadline approaching fast – things you should know!
Many seniors are being forced to change this year due to about 13% of Medicare Advantage plans are being phased out. Studies show that year after year, 80% of enrollees have not changed, even when unhappy, but this year 3.5 million people do not have a choice. Change can be unsettling but there are many avenues of information that can help, here are a few: 1. Ask your doctor’s office if they’re equipped with staff educated in the recent changes. They have your medical history and some have put in place…
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