Medicare

Health & Safety

A Growing Group Of Doctors Are Big-Money Prescribers In Medicare

7:16am November 17, 2016

In 2011, just 41 health care providers prescribed more than $5 million each in medicines under Medicare Part D. In 2015, that number was 514. The rise of expensive hepatitis C drugs is a factor.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both proposing fixes to the American health care system.

Platform Check: Trump And Clinton On Health Care

5:26pm November 02, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

The candidates diverge sharply on Obamacare but both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump see opportunities to improve health care through the tax code.

Supplemental dental insurance may not be cost effective for seniors.

Seniors' Teeth Need Dental Care, But Insurance Coverage Is Rare

5:00am October 27, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Aging takes a toll on teeth, but Medicare doesn't cover most dental needs, and private plans often have skimpy coverage. That means people are paying out of pocket for care or going without.

Attendees wear t-shirts in support of presidential candidates committing to Social Security for all generations during a town hall meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Jan. 29.

The Issues: Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump On Social Security And Medicare

9:44am October 06, 2016

by Scott Horsley

Programs like Social Security and Medicare consume nearly 40 percent of the federal budget, and candidates have suggested a variety of responses to their rising costs.

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Nurses teach patients how to use equipment and do peritoneal dialysis at home.

Feds Say More People Should Try Dialysis At Home

5:00am October 04, 2016

by Eric Whitney

Nationwide, fewer than 10 percent of people who need kidney dialysis do it at home. But close to 40 percent of patients of a Montana doctor do it at home. Medicare is hoping that becomes a trend.

After a Cologuard screening test for colon cancer comes back positive, patients may have to pay for additional diagnostic tests.

Health & Safety

When A Screening Test For Colon Cancer Leads To A Pricey Follow-Up

10:53am August 30, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Most screening tests for colon cancer are covered by insurance. But if the results are positive, patients may require a diagnostic colonoscopy that may not be fully paid for by insurance.

Many Well-Known Hospitals Fail To Score High In Medicare Rankings

6:49pm July 27, 2016

by Jordan Rau

Hospitals have been fighting to block the rankings, but Medicare released them Wednesday. Of the 102 hospitals that got a five-star rating, few are among those generally praised for great care.

$1 Billion Health Care Fraud Took Advantage Of Medicare In Florida, Agents Say

3:18pm July 22, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Investigators say Philip Esformes, 47, used his access to thousands of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to perpetrate a massive and profitable fraud.

President Obama speaks in Dallas in 2013 about the technical problems that affected the initial rollout of the Affordable Care Act. Now, citing the law's success, he is urging Congress to expand the insurance offerings.

Obama Renews Call For A 'Public Option' In Federal Health Law

2:09pm July 11, 2016

by Julie Rovner

The president made the proposal as part of a comprehensive look at the Affordable Care Act's legacy in an article under his byline in JAMA, the top journal of the American Medical Association.

Hassle Of Being A Patient Can Turn Into A Crisis Without Sick Leave

10:39am July 11, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

A new NPR poll shows about a third of working adults have no sick leave, even as more people are living with chronic health problems that require regular care.

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