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AARP Announces Next Steps on Medicare Bill

Nancy LeaMond, AARP's Executive Vice President of Social Impact, has recently announced the Association's next round of activity to encourage the enactment of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. After having been passed by both chambers of Congress with veto-proof margins, the bill now sits with the ...

Medicare Patients Should Keep an Eye on Insurance Coverage

Medicare recipients who become candidates for total hip or total knee replacement in the next decade will likely see their out-of-pocket expenses increase according to a study presented today at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Medicare represents the single largest payor for hip and ...

AMERIGROUP Offers Medicare Plan in Maryland

AMERIGROUP Community Care of Maryland has won federal approval to offer a health plan that addresses the specialized needs of people enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. The plan began serving members on January 1, 2007. The health plan, which is called AMERIVANTAGE, is a Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) ...

Drug Companies Brace for Changes in Medicare Part D

The federal government may gain the power to negotiate drug pricing with manufacturers on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries when the House votes on a new Democratic proposal next week. As Medicare Part D finds its footing in the pharmaceutical industry, drug companies are realizing that the government will continue to play ...

LymphaCare and Healthlight to Offer Discounts On Home Infrared Therapy Devices to Medicare Patients

Healthlight wants Medicare patients to have a high quality, yet inexpensive infrared therapy option now that Medicare has issued its National Coverage Determination (NCD) not covering these devices. Despite the countless patients who've seen results with Healthlight, Anodyne® Therapy and others, the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has determined that ...

Medicare Part D Driving Changes in Where Seniors Shop

With well over 30 million seniors, age 65 and older, signing up for prescription insurance through Medicare Part D, the subsequent changes in shopping behaviors are significantly impacting what's in the shopping basket as well as where seniors are choosing to shop. While the plan has been touted as a ...

National Medical Association Calling for Medicare Part D Filing Extension

The National Medical Association (NMA) in a letter to President Bush called for an extension to the enrollment deadline for the Medicare Prescription drug benefit program at least until Dec. 31. Evidence that eligible African-American seniors are not enrolling in the Medicare Prescription drug program is supported by a May 3 ...

Canadian Pharmacies a Lifeline for Seniors Caught in Medicare Coverage Gap

The infamous Medicare Part D “doughnut hole”, or coverage gap, is looming for beneficiaries that are beginning to exceed their initial coverage. Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that nearly 7 million seniors will face the harsh reality of paying full-price for their prescriptions once they exceed $ 2,250 in retail drug ...

Medicare’s New Drug Coverage Highlighted at Miami Beach Wellness Expo

In a continuation of his Initiative on Aging: To Life!, Miami-Dade County (Florida) Mayor Carlos Alvarez encouraged all of Miami-Dade County's Medicare beneficiaries to look into Medicare's new coverage for prescription medicines during a news conference hosted by the Alliance for Aging, Inc. The Mayor's remarks were made at the ...

SCAN Health Plan Simplifies Medicare Part D With Script IQ’s FormularyDynamIQs

SCAN Health Plan and Script IQ, Inc. today announced SCAN would utilize Script IQ's FormularyDynamIQs(TM) formulary management application for their 2007 Medicare Part D submissions. The move is intended to automate the manual and time-consuming requirements of Part D submission and to effectively communicate details of SCAN's Medicare programs to ...

Medicare Announces Funding for Health Insurance Counseling for 2006

Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) will receive $30 million to help people with Medicare until May 15, when the enrollment period for 2006 ends and during the next annual enrollment period beginning in November for drug coverage that ...

Power Mobility Device Final Rule Continues to Lack Clarity - Maintains Status Quo on Documentation

The SCOOTER Store, the nation's leading provider of power wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility devices, expressed disappointment in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS') failure to clarify documentation requirements in its Final Rule, Conditions of Payment for Payment of Power Mobility Devices (PMDs), published this week. Mike Pfister, President ...

Survey Assesses New Medicare Drug Program - Four Out of Five Seniors Are Satisfied

Four out of five seniors who have voluntarily signed up for the Medicare prescription drug program are satisfied with their coverage, according to a new survey commissioned by the Medicare Rx Education Network and conducted by KRC Research. A majority of these seniors report feeling better off than they were ...

AMA Insurance Agency to Offer CIGNATURE Rx(SM) Medicare Drug Plan to Retired Physicians

CIGNA HealthCare* today announced an agreement with AMA Insurance Agency, Inc. (AMAIAI) to market the CIGNATURE Rx(SM) Medicare prescription drug plans to Medicare-eligible physicians and their spouses. "We are delighted AMAIAI has chosen to offer CIGNA's Medicare prescription drug plans," said Terri Swanson, vice president of CIGNA Senior Care. "This ...

National ICD Registry becomes official database for Medicare

Patients and physicians across the country will now have access to better information on implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) today, as the national ICD RegistryTM becomes the official database for Medicare patients. A partnership between the American College of Cardiology Foundation and Heart Rhythm Society, the ICD RegistryTM collects detailed information ...

AmerisourceBergen Announces Date and Time for Fiscal Second Quarter Earnings Release

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) today announced that it plans to release its results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2006 on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 prior to the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results at 11:00 ...


August 21st 2008
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Fairview and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Reach Contract Agreement for Clinics and Hospitals

MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairview and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota have reached an agreement on a contract that allows Fairview clinics to remain as participating providers in all of Blue Cross' provider networks. The Fairview clinic contract was set to expire at ...
August 13th 2008
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Kronos Longevity Research Institute Study Proves Benefits of a High Omega-3 Diet

A study conducted by the Kronos Longevity Research Institute (KLRI) has found that a diet high in omega-3 fat will improve your insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammatory markers. But, a diet high in omega-3 fat will not alter endocrine responsiveness. The study was recently published in Hormones and Metabolic Research. Omega-3 ...
August 5th 2008
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HealthSouth Reports Results for Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2008

According to its financial results released today, HealthSouth is reporting strong results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2008. Net cash provided by operating activities was $67.0 million for the first six months of 2008. The results showed income from continuing operations of $47.2 million for the second quarter ...
August 2nd 2008
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Featured Product: Cholesterol Test Meter

From time to time, Health Plan News features a few products that we believe are worthwhile. Many health-conscious people like us are concerned about our cholesterol. Typically, it has been a little difficult to go have your cholesterol checked. Especially if you want to have your cholesterol checked on a ...
July 24th 2008
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AMERIGROUP Adds 3 Executives with Healthcare and Government Experience to Team

AMERIGROUP Corporation (NYSE:AGP) has appointed three senior executives to three key senior management positions within AMERIGROUP Corporation. Steven B. Larsen has been named Senior Vice President for State Government Relations; Tunde Sotunde, M.D., has been named Chief Executive Officer of AMERIGROUP Community Care of Georgia; and Robert A. Wychulis has been ...

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