Watch Out for Inappropriate Denials of Home Health Coverage for “Lack of Improvement”
Read moreBe alert for inappropriate denials of Medicare home health coverage based on lack of improvement or on “stability” – particularly for individuals with chronic conditions. The Jimmo vs. Sebelius settlement requires Medicare coverage determinations to be based on individuals’ need for skilled care, not on their potential for improvement or on their stability. Skilled...
0Advocates Demand Removal of Barriers for Medicare Enrollment During COVID Pandemic
Read moreCalifornia Health Advocates joins our partners at Justice in Aging and advocates nationwide in demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services take action to remove barriers and to streamline enrollment in health insurance coverage for low-income older adults and people with disabilities who are at highest risk of serious illness and death...
COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Need for Changes in Medicare Enrollment Process
Read moreUPDATE 4/10/20: The Social Security Administration (SSA) has notified us and the public that it is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide relief from certain enrollment requirements, and is already waiving the requirement to have an employer complete a section of form CMS-L564 as part of the Part...
CHA Requests Extension of Medicare’s General Enrollment Period Until Social Security Offices Reopen
Read moreIn the letter below to Social Security Commissioner, Andrew Saul, California Health Advocates (CHA) requests an extension of the General Enrollment Period (GEP) until local Social Security offices reopen. Such an extension would be similar to a previous “equitable relief” measure given to those who mistakenly kept their Marketplace plan, instead of enrolling in...
Medicare & Coronavirus ~ What You Need to Know
Read moreThis article, written by Seema Verma, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), provides tips on how to avoid coronavirus (COVID-19) scams and reviews Medicare’s coverage for COVID-19, including newly expanded telehealth services during this pandemic. Read below for details. Medicare & Coronavirus ~ What You Need to Know By...
CMS Waives 3-Day Inpatient Requirement for Skilled Nursing Care
Read moreThe Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced a number of Section 1135 waivers as part of their response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). This includes waiving the 3-day hospital inpatient requirement for Medicare to cover skilled nursing care. CMS is waiving the requirement at Section 1812(f) of the...
Medicare Covers COVID-19 Tests & CMS Issues Guidance to Medicare Advantage & Part D Plans
Read moreAs the coronavirus is spreading nationally and globally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced early in March that Medicare will cover coronavirus testing. All COVID-19 tests ordered by your doctor or other health care provider will be covered under Medicare Part B as a diagnostic laboratory test, and therefore has no...
Beware of COVID-19 Scams & Learn About Medicare Coronavirus Coverage & Guidance from Government Agencies
Read moreScams are already underway regarding the coronavirus. We’ve heard a report of someone receiving a robocall that used COVID-19 as a scare tactic to get the caller to act to “keep your family safe”. Scammers are always looking for new opportunities for fraud, and given the current uncertainty and anxiety people across the country...
House Hearing Highlights the BENES Act ~ Let’s Get it Passed in 2020
Read moreLast week the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing called, “Legislation to Improve Americans’ Health Care Coverage and Outcomes.” In it they highlighted the bipartisan bill, the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477) which would improve the Medicare Part B enrollment process to help stop people approaching Medicare...
House Passes Historic Bill to Lower Drug Prices & Expand Medicare
Read moreOn December 12th, the U.S. House of Representative passed a historic piece of legislation, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) by a vote of 230-192. If signed into law, this legislation would significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs for beneficiaries and Medicare, including authorizing Medicare to negotiate prices for...
Join us for an educational webinar
Why Everyone Needs an Advance Health Care Directive & Power of Attorney
August 12, 2020 » 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT