Tuesday, March 28, 2017
A: Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE programs, target people on Medicare and who need the level of care normally provided in a nursing home but prefer to receive the services in their community or their own home. The goal is one shared by patients and families alike – to allow older or disabled adults to age in place as opposed to entering an institution.
Monday, March 20, 2017
A: Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs sponsored by Part D drug plans target members who take medications for multiple chronic diseases. MTM programs teach members how to maximize the benefit of their medications through a comprehensive medication review with a healthcare professional.
Monday, March 13, 2017
A: Possibly, but not likely. Medicare Advantage plans can change their networks during the plan year. In most instances, this will not provide an opportunity for you to switch plans outside the October 15 – December 7 Open Enrollment Period.
Monday, March 6, 2017
A: Think of Medicare demonstration projects as laboratory experiments in a controlled environment. They provide opportunities to try out new policies in healthcare and payment delivery systems before making any permanent changes to the Medicare program.
Monday, February 27, 2017
A: You’d probably not be surprised to learn that quality ratings for Part D and Medicare Advantage plans can be found at www.medicare.gov. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) use a five star rating system to categorize these plans as Excellent (5), Above Average (4), Average (3), Below Average (2) or Poor (1). The star system is not used for Medicare Supplement plans.