medicare

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Chiquita Brooks-LaSure now leads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Expanding Insurance Coverage Is Top Priority for New Medicare-Medicaid Chief

“Our focus is going to be on making sure regulations and policies are going to be focused on improving coverage,” said Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who was sworn in on May 27.

Jun 3, 2021

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OREGON CAPITOL/BRYAN BRENNEMAN/CC BY 2.0

Lawmakers Explore 'Public Option' To Fill Gaps In Oregonians’ Health Insurance

The sponsor of a bill that proposes a public option for people who lack insurance wants it delayed so the state can complete another study.

Apr 1, 2021
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Requires Health Insurers To Cover COVID-19 Vaccination Costs

Patients are not charged for the vaccine or the provider’s cost of administering it whether they have commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance at all.

Feb 2, 2021

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Seniors Face Crushing Drug Costs as Congress Stalls on Capping Medicare Out-Of-Pockets

Many Americans face high out-of-pocket costs for life-saving drugs but those on Medicare are often worse off: There's no cap on coinsurance costs once they hit $6,550 in drug spending.

Jan 4, 2021

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Joe Biden/Gage Skidmore from CC BY-SA 2.0

Hospitals Hostile To Biden Plan To Drop Medicare Age To 60

Dropping Medicare eligibility age to 60 from 65 would deprive hospitals of billions of dollars in revenue they now get from commercial insurance plans.

Nov 11, 2020

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Four Oregon Hospitals Penalized For Safety Issues

Many others are being penalized as part of federal Medicare programs that cut pay to hospitals for frequent readmission of sick patients and hospital-acquired infections.

Nov 5, 2020
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Medicare Fines Half of Hospitals for Readmitting Too Many Patients

The latest fines, based on readmissions between July 2016 and June 2019, will lower reimbursements for the hospitals.

Nov 4, 2020

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Arguing to Undo the ACA. Harming Medicare. Do They Go Hand in Hand?

Oral arguments in a legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act are scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 10.

Oct 26, 2020

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St. Anthony Hospital in Hermiston is part of the new Medicare Advantage supplemental plan for eastern Oregonians.

Group Creates New Health Insurance Option In Eastern Oregon

The same organizations that created an Eastern Oregon CCO eight years ago will offer a supplemental Medicare Advantage plan for seniors.

Aug 31, 2020
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Nurses at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland. | LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

What Seniors Should Know Before Going Ahead With Elective Procedures

To feel comfortable, patients need to take stock of the precautions providers are taking. This is especially true for older adults, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

Jul 30, 2020