Medicare

Drugmakers long ceased to be the only villain of the insulin price scandal. While Lilly is cutting the list price” and others may follow, will other "parties" (i.e. pharmacy benefit managers) cause this price to increase before it hits the pharmacy counter?

The president outlined his plan in a guest essay in The New York Times, writing that Medicare is a "rock-solid guarantee that Americans have counted on to be there for them when they retire.”

A new rural hospital payment model shifts the focus of services away from overnight stays to outpatient and emergency care. Still, experts say the law needs to be amended to provide the right mix of care for rural communities.

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has a grade of D, according to Leapfrog. That’s down from a C two years ago. Hospital officials say the rankings don’t give a complete picture.

Sen. Rick Scott amended a plan that called for a revote on all federal legislation after five years. Democrats seized on it to accuse Republicans of looking to cut the programs.

Politicians are again pointing fingers over cutting Medicare. Any party accused of threatening the program tends to lose elections, but without a bipartisan agreement, seniors stand to lose the most.

Medicare suddenly stopped paying for the pricey drug that prolongs his life. As he waits for an appeal, this retired physician wonders if he should give up treatment to spare his family the cost.

In Tampa, the president also spoke about lowering drug prices and attacked Big Pharma. He also vowed to veto any legislation that would raise the cost of prescriptions or overturn the Affordable Care Act.

Drugmakers will be required to pay Medicare back for price increases that outpace inflation. The industry is expected to put up a fight over implementation.

The topic will be his plan to "protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare and lower health care costs,'' according to a news release. The Florida visit comes two days after his State of the Union address.