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Medicare Issue of the Day

The Medicare Issue of the Day is a new series designed to introduce and explain the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. These daily fact sheets will cover important new provisions of this legislation.

Check back frequently for updates to this series.

• September 09, 2004 - NEARLY ALL ELIGIBLE HOSPITALS ARE REPORTING QUALITY OF CARE DATA (PDF,50 Kb)
• September 08, 2004 - CMS STRENGTHENS EFFORTS TO REDUCE FRAUD AND ABUSE IN MEDICARE (PDF,43 Kb)
• September 07, 2004 - NEW BENEFICIARY ASSISTANCE IN FINDING THE MOST APPROPRIATE HEALTH COVERAGE (PDF,45 Kb)
• September 02, 2004 - MEDICARE ADVANTAGE REFORM AND BURDEN REDUCTION (PDF,65 Kb)
• September 01, 2004 - MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS IN BENEFITS (PDF,43 Kb)
• August 31, 2004 - ALTERNATIVES TO MEDIGAP: NEW DRUG BENEFITS AND SAVINGS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BENEFICIARIES (PDF,37 Kb)
• August 30, 2004 - NEW MEDIGAP OPTIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPTIONS (PDF,38 Kb)
• August 27, 2004 - CMS PROJECTS 2.9 PERCENT INCREASE IN MEDICARE RURAL HOSPICE PROVIDER PAYMENT RATES (PDF,32 Kb)
• August 26, 2004 - STATE PHARMACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (SPAPs) (PDF,49 Kb)
• August 25, 2004 - IMPROVEMENTS FOR BENEFICIARIES IN RURAL AREAS (PDF,51 Kb)
• August 24, 2004 - ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING (PDF,37 Kb)
• August 23, 2004 - CMS LAUNCHES COUNCIL TO IMPROVE TIMELY ACCESS TO NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (PDF,45 Kb)
• August 20, 2004 - PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS Sections 302 and 627 (PDF,51 Kb)
• August 19, 2004 - PAYMENT FOR SERVICES IN AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS (PDF,48 Kb)
• August 18, 2004 - QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS (PDF,67 Kb)
• August 17, 2004 - PRICE NEGOTIATION TO LOWER DRUG PRICES (PDF,42 Kb)
• August 16, 2004 - MEDICARE EXPANDS DRUGS AVAILABLE UNDER PROGRAM TO HELP BENEFICIARIES WITH SEVERE ILLNESSES (PDF,55 Kb)
• August 13, 2004 - COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR HEALTH PLANS FOR MEDICARE PART A AND B BENEFITS (PDF,100 Kb)
• August 12, 2004 - BIDDING PROCESS USING COMPETITIVE MARKET FORCES FOR LOW-COST (PDF,42 Kb)
• August 11, 2004 - THE RETIREE DRUG SUBSIDY: MORE SECURE COVERAGE FOR RETIREES (PDF,66 Kb)
• August 10, 2004 - MEDICARE PROPOSES PAYMENT RATES AND POLICY CHANGES FOR HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT SERVICES (PDF,45 Kb)
• August 09, 2004 - Beneficiary Protections (PDF,42 Kb)
• August 05, 2004 - Choices for Medicare Advantage (PDF,139 Kb)
• August 04, 2004 - Choices for Drug Coverage (PDF,145 Kb)
• August 03, 2004 - CMS ANNOUNCES FY 2005 PAYMENT INCREASES AND POLICY CHANGES TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND ACCESS FOR ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS (PDF,121 Kb)
• August 02, 2004 - ENROLLMENT IN THE MEDICARE-APPROVED PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARD PROGRAM HAS SURPASSED THE 4 MILLION MARK (PDF,99 Kb)
• July 30, 2004 - MEDICARE INCREASES NURSING HOME PAYMENT RATES (PDF,47 Kb)
• July 29, 2004 - Medicare Announces Pay Increase for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (PDF,86 Kb)
• July 28, 2004 - Medicare's Proposed Regulation to Implement New Preventative Services Under Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,58 Kb)
• July 27, 2004 - Medicare Proposes Payment Rule to Provide New Preventive Benefits and Raise Physician Payments for 2005 (PDF,55 Kb)
• July 23, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Low-Income Beneficiary Savings (PDF,41 Kb)
• July 22, 2004 - Administrative Improvements Within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (PDF,94 Kb)
• July 21, 2004 - The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Government Subsidies/Payments to Plans (PDF,27 Kb)
• July 16, 2004 - Enhanced Medicare Website and 1-800 Number Make it Faster to Start Saving with Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards (PDF,104 Kb)
• July 15, 2004 - HHS Announces Revised Medicare Obesity Coverage Policy (PDF,89 Kb)
• July 14, 2004 - Medicare Sponsored Drug Cards Provide Significant Savings Now For Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions (PDF,28 Kb)
• July 13, 2004 - The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: True Out-of-Pocket Costs (PDF,40 Kb)
• July 12, 2004 - The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Risk Corridors (PDF,33 Kb)
• July 09, 2004 - The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Coverage/Formularies (PDF,70 Kb)
• July 08, 2004 - Indexing Drug Benefit to Maintain Percentage Cost Sharing (PDF,71 Kb)
• July 07, 2004 - Educating Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF,35 Kb)
• July 06, 2004 - The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: How the Benefit Works (PDF,33 Kb)
• July 02, 2004 - Rural Providers Receive Needed Relief (PDF,49 Kb)
• July 01, 2004 - Demonstration Project for Consumer-Directed Chronic Outpatient Services (PDF,30 Kb)
• June 30, 2004 - New Medicare Modernization Act Provisions Boost Payments for Ambulance Services (PDF,35 Kb)
• June 29, 2004 - Payment For Pancreatic Islet Cell Investigational Transplants For Medicare Beneficiaries In Clinical Trials (PDF,27 Kb)
• June 28, 2004 - MMA Modifications of Physician Referrals to Specialty Hospitals and Rural Entities (PDF,38 Kb)
• June 25, 2004 - Under Section 641 of the MMA (PDF,116 Kb)
• June 24, 2004 - Many Medicare Discount Cards Offer Big Savings for Low-Income Seniors According to New CMS Analysis (PDF,37 Kb)
• June 23, 2004 - Medigap - Medicare Supplemental Benefits (PDF,47 Kb)
• June 22, 2004 - Program Integrity Provisions in the New Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,39 Kb)
• June 18, 2004 - Secretary Thompson Urges Family to Help Dad Save Money on His Drug Costs by Calling 1-800 MEDICARE or visiting Medicare Website (PDF,100 Kb)
• June 16, 2004 - Medicare Proposes Expanded Coverage and New Studies of FDG-PET for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (PDF,34 Kb)
• June 14, 2004 - Reducing Health Disparities (PDF,52 Kb)
• June 08, 2004 - Helping Seniors - Six-Month Mark since Enactment (PDF,39 Kb)
• June 07, 2004 - Big Savings Available on Generic Drugs Through Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards (PDF,37 Kb)
• June 04, 2004 - Medicare to Pay for Unclassified FDA-Approved Drugs Administered in Outpatient Departments (PDF,69 Kb)
• June 03, 2004 - Assisting Homebound Seniors (PDF,36 Kb)
• June 02, 2004 - Seniors Urged to Sign Up for Discount Drug Cards (PDF,37 Kb)
• May 28, 2004 - MEDICARE ESTABLISHES ADVISORY GROUP ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND LABOR ACT RESPONSIBILITIES (PDF,69 Kb)
• May 27, 2004 - HHS ANNOUNCES NEW COLLABORATIVE ENROLLMENT INITIATIVE TO HELP LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES SIGN UP FOR DRUG DISCOUNT CARD (PDF,78 Kb)
• May 26, 2004 - CMS Expands Medicare Information Available Immediately to Providers Via Electronic Mail (PDF,72 Kb)
• May 24, 2004 - CMS Announces Increase in Number of Hospital s Reporting Quality of Care Data (PDF,77 Kb)
• May 21, 2004 - Improvements to 1-800-MEDICARE and www.Medicare.gov (PDF,80 Kb)
• May 20, 2004 - $600 CREDIT & DISCOUNTS COMBINE TO GIVE LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (PDF,51 Kb)
• May 19, 2004 - CMS Adds Resources to Respond to Record Numbers of Callers (PDF,43 Kb)
• May 18, 2004 - Protecting the Drug Card Program from Fraud (PDF,78 Kb)
• May 17, 2004 - MMA Specialty Hospital Changes (PDF,72 Kb)
• May 14, 2004 - CMS Adds Resources to Respond to Record Numbers of Callers (PDF,80 Kb)
• May 13, 2004 - Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (PDF,70 Kb)
• May 12, 2004 - Proposed FY 2005 Payment Increases and Policy Changes for Acute Care Hospitals (PDF,67 Kb)
• May 11, 2004 - CMS Announces 2005 Medicare Advantage Payment Rates and New Results on Beneficiary Savings from Medicare Advantage (PDF,72 Kb)
• May 10, 2004 - Small Provider Technical Assistance Demonstration Program (PDF,68 Kb)
• May 07, 2004 - Bonus Payments for Physician Scarcity Areas (PDF,81 Kb)
• May 06, 2004 - Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Delivering Discounts - New Cards Show Savings Over Current Drug Prices (PDF,65 Kb)
• May 04, 2004 - Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards Now Available (PDF,101 Kb)
• April 30, 2004 - HHS Works to Educate Seniors About Savings From New Drug Discount Cards (PDF,105 Kb)
• April 29, 2004 - 1-800-MEDICARE Call Center Representatives Tripled to Provide Personal Assistance to Callers (PDF,73 Kb)
• April 28, 2004 - Expanded Coverage of Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) Therapies (PDF,69 Kb)
• April 27, 2004 - Hospital Quality (PDF,88 Kb)
• April 26, 2004 - New Study Estimates Savings may be Greater than Expected on Out-of Pocket Drug Spending with the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program (PDF,85 Kb)
• April 22, 2004 - New Initiative under the MMA to Improve Quality of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Illnesses (PDF,68 Kb)
• April 21, 2004 - Investments in Better Care: Provisions in the MMA (PDF,77 Kb)
• April 20, 2004 - Investments in Better Care: Critical Access Hospital Provisions (PDF,81 Kb)
• April 19, 2004 - Investments in Better Care: Physician Provisions (PDF,69 Kb)
• April 16, 2004 - Investments in Better Care: Hospital Provisions (PDF,74 Kb)
• April 15, 2004 - Strengthened Provider Education Under the MMA (PDF,69 Kb)
• April 14, 2004 - Demonstration Project for Medical Adult Day Care Services under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) (PDF,68 Kb)
• April 12, 2004 - Rural Providers Receive Needed Relief (PDF,85 Kb)
• April 08, 2004 - Extension of Reasonable Cost HMO and CPO Contracts under the Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,68 Kb)
• April 07, 2004 - Medicare Savings Accounts (MSAs) (PDF,69 Kb)
• April 06, 2004 - Benefits to State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs) under the MMA (PDF,96 Kb)
• April 05, 2004 - Payments to Oncologists (PDF,85 Kb)
• April 02, 2004 - Changes in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) to Part B Payment for Drugs (PDF,77 Kb)
• April 01, 2004 - Disproportionate Share Hospitals (PDF,88 Kb)
• March 31, 2004 - Quality Provisions in the Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,93 Kb)
• March 30, 2004 - Income-Related Reduction in Part B Premium Subsidy (PDF,117 Kb)
• March 29, 2004 - Reimbursement for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Providing Services Under Medicare Advantage Plans (MA) (PDF,91 Kb)
• March 26, 2004 - Graduate Medical Education (GME) Provisions (PDF,92 Kb)
• March 24, 2004 - Physician Pathology Services (PDF,103 Kb)
• March 23, 2004 - End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Program (PDF,107 Kb)
• March 22, 2004 - Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) New Statutory Provisions and CMS’ Final Regulation (PDF,111 Kb)
• March 19, 2004 - Payment for Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Competitive Acquisition of Items and Services (PDF,101 Kb)
• March 18, 2004 - MMA Payments for Therapeutic and Diabetic Shoes and Inserts (PDF,92 Kb)
• March 16, 2004 - MMA’s Improvements for Physicians (PDF,114 Kb)
• March 12, 2004 - Several MMA Provisions Directly Impact Delivery of Health Services to American Indians and Alaska Natives (PDF,134 Kb)
• March 11, 2004 - Provisions in the MMA Ensuring Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals (PDF,103 Kb)
• March 10, 2004 - Chronic Care Improvement in the New Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) (PDF,126 Kb)
• March 09, 2004 - Medication Therapy Management Provisions in the New Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) (PDF,25 Kb)
• March 05, 2004 - What the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Means for Hispanic Beneficiaries (PDF,26 Kb)
• March 04, 2004 - What the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Means for African-American Beneficiaries (PDF,27 Kb)
• March 03, 2004 - What the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) Means for Minority Beneficiaries (PDF,103 Kb)
• March 01, 2004 - Inpatient Hospital Provisions in the new Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,101 Kb)
• February 27, 2004 - Home Health Provisions in the new Medicare Modernization Act (PDF,119 Kb)
• February 26, 2004 - Background Checks on Prospective Employees at Long-term Care Facilities (PDF,103 Kb)
• February 25, 2004 - Regional PPOs (PDF,105 Kb)
• February 24, 2004 - Regional PPOs (PDF,91 Kb)
• February 23, 2004 - Regional PPOs (PDF,94 Kb)
• February 20, 2004 - Hospice Provisions in the New Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) (PDF,90 Kb)
• February 19, 2004 - Medicare Payment for Ambulance Services (PDF,138 Kb)
• February 18, 2004 - No Caps on Provider Reimbursement for Physical (PDF,167 Kb)
• February 17, 2004 - Federal Reimbursement of Providers for Furnishing Emergency Health Services (PDF,132 Kb)
• February 13, 2004 - More Responsive Medicare Appeals Reform for Beneficiaries and Providers (PDF,122 Kb)
• February 12, 2004 - Specialized Medicare Advantage Plans for Special Needs Beneficiaries (PDF,92 Kb)
• February 11, 2004 - Beneficiary Education (PDF,113 Kb)
• February 10, 2004 - Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) (PDF,105 Kb)
• February 09, 2004 - Competitive Bidding for Local Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans (PDF,117 Kb)
• February 06, 2004 - Medicare Experiences High Response from Companies to Sponsor Approved Drug Discount Cards (PDF,90 Kb)
• February 05, 2004 - Investing in our Seniors (PDF,102 Kb)
• February 04, 2004 - MMA Improvements for Beneficiaries with Diabetes 106 KB) (PDF,105 Kb)
• February 03, 2004 - Federal Assumption of Medicaid Prescription Drug Costs for Dually Eligible Beneficiaries-Phased Down State Contribution (PDF,108 Kb)
• February 02, 2004 - Medicaid Prescription Drug Rebates and Best Price Exemptions (PDF,178 Kb)
• January 30, 2004 - CMS Creates Pharmacy Plus Demonstrations (PDF,117 Kb)
• January 29, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Beneficiary Protections (PDF,118 Kb)
• January 28, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Low Income Benefit and Subsidies (PDF,133 Kb)
• January 27, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: General Overview (PDF,123 Kb)
• January 26, 2004 - Prescription Drug Benefit: Choice of Plans (PDF,109 Kb)
• January 23, 2004 - The MMA's Impact on Low-Income Individuals and the States (PDF,105 Kb)
• January 22, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Low-Income Beneficiary Savings (PDF,117 Kb)
• January 21, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Beneficiary Savings (PDF,112 Kb)
• January 20, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Bidding and Premiums (PDF,110 Kb)
• January 16, 2004 - The New Prescription Drug Benefit: Eligibility and Enrollment (PDF,109 Kb)
• January 15, 2004 - Expanded Access to Health Savings Accounts (PDF,107 Kb)
• January 14, 2004 - Rural Hospitals Receive Needed Relief (PDF,109 Kb)
• January 13, 2004 - Protecting Medicare's Finances for Future Generations (PDF,106 Kb)
• January 12, 2004 - Payment Reforms for Hospital Outpatient Services (PDF,125 Kb)
• January 09, 2004 - Coverage for Cardiovascular Screening (PDF,108 Kb)
• January 08, 2004 - Medicare Endorsed Prescription Drug Discount Card -- Helping Those Who Need it Most (PDF,108 Kb)
• January 07, 2004 - Coverage for Diabetes Screening (PDF,124 Kb)
• January 06, 2004 - Welcome to Medicare Physical (PDF,108 Kb)
• January 05, 2004 - Medicare Endorsed Prescription Drug Discount Card (PDF,108 Kb)