Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services

Some Doctors, Patients Balk At Medicare's 'Flat Fee' Payment Proposal

By editor • Jul 27, 2018

The Trump administration announced a plan Friday that would affect about 40 percent of the payments physicians receive from Medicare. Not everybody's pleased.

Trump Administration To Resume 'Obamacare' Insurer Payments

By • Jul 25, 2018
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The Trump administration says it will restore Affordable Care Act payments to insurers that it had recently frozen, leading to concerns about higher premiums next year.

U.S. Health Spending Growth Lowest Since 1960

By Mary Agnes Carey for Kaiser Health News • Dec 4, 2014

National health spending grew 3.6 percent in 2013, the lowest annual increase since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began tracking the statistic in 1960, officials said Wednesday.

Spending slowed for private health insurance, Medicare, hospitals, physicians and clinical services and out-of-pocket spending by consumers.  However, it accelerated for Medicaid and for prescription drugs, according to the report, published online by the journal Health Affairs.

Feds Fall Short on Medicare Websites

By • Nov 18, 2014
Wikimedia Commons

With many seniors facing high medical bills, a congressional investigation has found that federal government websites meant to give Medicare patients basic consumer tools instead fail to provide adequate information on out-of-pocket costs, and even quality of care.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found that Medicare lacks clear procedures for getting useful information to consumers.

Medicare HMO Patients Face Dilemma

By • Nov 22, 2013

Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage -- HMOs or other managed-care plans -- often adjust their networks from year-to-year. But as the Tampa Tribune reports, some major changes for have many Tampa Bay area seniors double-checking their plans during the last couple of weeks of open enrollment.