Medicare to pay doctors for actual expense of drugs

Article Abstract:

Medicare announced that it will stop doctors from charging the amount of 50 cancer and lung disease drugs based on average wholesale prices. The move is aimed at preventing doctors from overbilling federal and state health programs. Doctors pay less when they buy the drugs but can charge Medicare 95% of their wholesale price. For instance, a dose of leucovorin costs only $2.75 but doctors can charge Medicare $17 for the drug. Doctors also charge Medicare $47 for the cancer drug Doxorubicin, which costs only $10.

Medical care

---

Medicare price plan on hold

Article Abstract:

A controversial plan to stop cancer doctors and home health agencies from overcharging certain drugs have been postponed while the sectors affected are discussing and debating the proposed measures. The Health Care Financing Administration has sent letters requesting Medicare bill payers to reimburse doctors based on a list of lower prices for 50 drugs. Cancer doctors say that cutting off their drug reimbursement without increasing other Medicare payments will make unable to provide in-office chemotherapy.

---

Medicare HMOs might see easing of rules

Article Abstract:

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the government agency that oversees Medicare, has outlined plans to ease some of its complex rules in an effort to dissuade a number of Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from exiting the program. Some observers, however, see that HCFA's move, which also included an agreement to delay the adoption of a new payment plan, as a strategy that may have come too late since a number of HMOs have already announced plans to pull out from some regions.

Health Care Financing Admin

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: California law to allow HMOs to be sued. Medicare HMOs strong, officials insist. Medicare HMOs hit for lavish spending
• Abstracts: Microsoft case shifts to corporate customers. Microsoft split overturned. Talks focus on stopping reprisals
• Abstracts: Insurers raise rates or refuse to cover nursing homes. Insurers drop Medicare HMOs serving 711,000 patients. Insurers: plan would ease health services
• Abstracts: British discover a safer way to fly. Worn metal is focus as crash hearing opens. British Airways wants Concorde to take flight again
• Abstracts: Airline merger carries pros, cons for fliers. Future of DC Air hazy after new offer. Other airlines may bid for parts of TWA

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.