The "Doc Fix"

A recent editorial at The Chicago Tribune looks at the the Medicare situation many doctors refer to as the "Doc Fix." Many doctors have left Medicare as a result of the diminishing pay from the government. If doctors reach the maximum payment they can receive, a fee cut kicks in and they are paid less for their work. This is even after the standard rate for Medicare per visit is lower than private insurers and those who visit uninsured. Congress has suspended these pay cuts many times over the past few years, but The Chicago Tribune suggests that with the current changes in Medicare, Congress finally fixes this problem. The government should find a balanced answer and pay rate that can promote quality and efficient care. They also look to Dr. Donald Berwick, new head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to solve this problem. Read the full editorial here.

Obama appoints new Medicaid-Medicare Chief

President Obama has nominated Dr. Donald Berwick to be the new Administrator for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. There has been no permanent administrator since 2006.

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer stated via blog post, "Many Republicans in Congress have made it clear in recent weeks that they were going to stall the nomination as long as they could, solely to score political points. But with the agency facing new responsibilities to protect seniors' care under the Affordable Care Act, there's no time to waste with Washington game-playing."

What do you think of this new nomination? Read the full article here.

No new Medicare enrollees for WellPoint

Due to complaints about WellPoint denying prescription drugs to elderly patients, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not allow the to enroll any new patients. They also frequently overcharged their patients.

Source: SmartAboutHealth.net

Personal Health Records pilot launching in Arizona and Utah

According to Exam Health, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services will be launching a new pilot program in Arizona and Uta called "Medicare Choice Personal Health Records." This program, new to Medicare beneficiaries, will regularly update existing health records with Medicare claims. For more on the program, read here.