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2010 Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in Medicare. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. The proposal also would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
Dr. Tooker Stepping Down at ACP
Dr. John Tooker is stepping down as executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Physicians, the college has announced. Dr. Tooker will remain in his position until a search committee selects his replacement, a process the ACP said should take 6-12 months. “It has been and remains a privilege to serve as ACP's executive vice president and CEO,” Dr. Tooker said in a statement. “My decision was influenced by a family member's health, and my desire to spend more time with my family.” Dr. Tooker served as the college's deputy executive vice president and chief operating officer from 1995 until 2002, when he assumed his current title. He also chairs the boards of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the National eHealth Collaborative, and serves on the boards of the National Quality Forum, Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, and Electronic Health Record Patient Safety Advisory.
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami; Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, medical school enrollment must be expanded further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.
Boomer Health Spending Rises
Total health care expenses for Americans aged 45-64 doubled between 1996 and 2006, from an inflation-adjusted $187 billion to $370 billion, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The AHRQ found that while the proportion of middle-aged people who incurred medical expenses remained constant at 89%, average health care expenses increased from an inflation-adjusted $3,849 to $5,455. Prescriptions constituted a much higher portion of total expenses in 2006 than in 1996, the federal agency said, while the share spent for hospital inpatient care decreased. The average expense per service rendered also increased significantly. For example, the average physician office visit jumped to $207 from an inflation-adjusted $128, prescription medicines nearly doubled from $103 to $199, and an emergency department visit rose from $563 to $947, the AHRQ found.
Docs Like State's Health Reforms
A large majority of practicing physicians in Massachusetts support that state's 2006 health reform law, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated. Three-quarters of physicians essentially said they want to continue the law's policies, although 46% would make some changes—especially to cover more of the uninsured and to better control costs. Only 13% of physicians in the state opposed the health reforms created through the legislation, and just 7% said they believe the policies should be repealed, according to the study, conducted by Harvard researchers. “The findings suggest that it is possible to provide near-universal coverage of the population and have a resulting system that most physicians believe improves care for the uninsured without undermining their ability to provide care to their patients,” study coauthor Robert Blendon, Sc.D., said in a statement.
2010 Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in Medicare. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. The proposal also would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
Dr. Tooker Stepping Down at ACP
Dr. John Tooker is stepping down as executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Physicians, the college has announced. Dr. Tooker will remain in his position until a search committee selects his replacement, a process the ACP said should take 6-12 months. “It has been and remains a privilege to serve as ACP's executive vice president and CEO,” Dr. Tooker said in a statement. “My decision was influenced by a family member's health, and my desire to spend more time with my family.” Dr. Tooker served as the college's deputy executive vice president and chief operating officer from 1995 until 2002, when he assumed his current title. He also chairs the boards of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the National eHealth Collaborative, and serves on the boards of the National Quality Forum, Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, and Electronic Health Record Patient Safety Advisory.
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami; Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, medical school enrollment must be expanded further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.
Boomer Health Spending Rises
Total health care expenses for Americans aged 45-64 doubled between 1996 and 2006, from an inflation-adjusted $187 billion to $370 billion, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The AHRQ found that while the proportion of middle-aged people who incurred medical expenses remained constant at 89%, average health care expenses increased from an inflation-adjusted $3,849 to $5,455. Prescriptions constituted a much higher portion of total expenses in 2006 than in 1996, the federal agency said, while the share spent for hospital inpatient care decreased. The average expense per service rendered also increased significantly. For example, the average physician office visit jumped to $207 from an inflation-adjusted $128, prescription medicines nearly doubled from $103 to $199, and an emergency department visit rose from $563 to $947, the AHRQ found.
Docs Like State's Health Reforms
A large majority of practicing physicians in Massachusetts support that state's 2006 health reform law, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated. Three-quarters of physicians essentially said they want to continue the law's policies, although 46% would make some changes—especially to cover more of the uninsured and to better control costs. Only 13% of physicians in the state opposed the health reforms created through the legislation, and just 7% said they believe the policies should be repealed, according to the study, conducted by Harvard researchers. “The findings suggest that it is possible to provide near-universal coverage of the population and have a resulting system that most physicians believe improves care for the uninsured without undermining their ability to provide care to their patients,” study coauthor Robert Blendon, Sc.D., said in a statement.
2010 Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in Medicare. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. The proposal also would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
Dr. Tooker Stepping Down at ACP
Dr. John Tooker is stepping down as executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Physicians, the college has announced. Dr. Tooker will remain in his position until a search committee selects his replacement, a process the ACP said should take 6-12 months. “It has been and remains a privilege to serve as ACP's executive vice president and CEO,” Dr. Tooker said in a statement. “My decision was influenced by a family member's health, and my desire to spend more time with my family.” Dr. Tooker served as the college's deputy executive vice president and chief operating officer from 1995 until 2002, when he assumed his current title. He also chairs the boards of the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the National eHealth Collaborative, and serves on the boards of the National Quality Forum, Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, and Electronic Health Record Patient Safety Advisory.
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami; Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, medical school enrollment must be expanded further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.
Boomer Health Spending Rises
Total health care expenses for Americans aged 45-64 doubled between 1996 and 2006, from an inflation-adjusted $187 billion to $370 billion, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The AHRQ found that while the proportion of middle-aged people who incurred medical expenses remained constant at 89%, average health care expenses increased from an inflation-adjusted $3,849 to $5,455. Prescriptions constituted a much higher portion of total expenses in 2006 than in 1996, the federal agency said, while the share spent for hospital inpatient care decreased. The average expense per service rendered also increased significantly. For example, the average physician office visit jumped to $207 from an inflation-adjusted $128, prescription medicines nearly doubled from $103 to $199, and an emergency department visit rose from $563 to $947, the AHRQ found.
Docs Like State's Health Reforms
A large majority of practicing physicians in Massachusetts support that state's 2006 health reform law, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated. Three-quarters of physicians essentially said they want to continue the law's policies, although 46% would make some changes—especially to cover more of the uninsured and to better control costs. Only 13% of physicians in the state opposed the health reforms created through the legislation, and just 7% said they believe the policies should be repealed, according to the study, conducted by Harvard researchers. “The findings suggest that it is possible to provide near-universal coverage of the population and have a resulting system that most physicians believe improves care for the uninsured without undermining their ability to provide care to their patients,” study coauthor Robert Blendon, Sc.D., said in a statement.