OT: Anyone hear the NPR interview about the person getting dependant care coverage from parents

[bearishgurl]

I just watched the 60-Minutes video from 9/19/10 entitled: The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care.

I have a couple of comments.

First, it stated the cancer drug, “Avastin” costs $55K (for a 30-day supply?) and only prolongs life on average of 45 days (roughly the amount of time spent taking the drug). Yet, Medicare will pay for it. IMHO, this drug is one of the most toxic biologic agents available that is used on humans. It’s side effects can be beyond horrible and can increase complications at the time of death.

The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

IMO, this, in an of itself, is at the crux of the mounting Medicare end-of-life costs to taxpayers.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

[/quote]

There are no absolute cuts in the act that specifically target hospice. There are (almost) across the board cuts in whats called the “market basket increase”. This isn’t technically a cut, but rather a reduction in possible increases in reimbursements. Additionally, there is a provision for some possible (maybe probable?) additional cuts related to revenue neutrality subject to negotiations of per diem rates with major hospice providers. But nothing that I’ve found that specifies any reduction in covered services. There are quite a few quality of care surveys specified in the plan. Some of these may ultimately set and/or reduce some limits for hospice coverage.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

[/quote]

There are no absolute cuts in the act that specifically target hospice. There are (almost) across the board cuts in whats called the “market basket increase”. This isn’t technically a cut, but rather a reduction in possible increases in reimbursements. Additionally, there is a provision for some possible (maybe probable?) additional cuts related to revenue neutrality subject to negotiations of per diem rates with major hospice providers. But nothing that I’ve found that specifies any reduction in covered services. There are quite a few quality of care surveys specified in the plan. Some of these may ultimately set and/or reduce some limits for hospice coverage.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

[/quote]

There are no absolute cuts in the act that specifically target hospice. There are (almost) across the board cuts in whats called the “market basket increase”. This isn’t technically a cut, but rather a reduction in possible increases in reimbursements. Additionally, there is a provision for some possible (maybe probable?) additional cuts related to revenue neutrality subject to negotiations of per diem rates with major hospice providers. But nothing that I’ve found that specifies any reduction in covered services. There are quite a few quality of care surveys specified in the plan. Some of these may ultimately set and/or reduce some limits for hospice coverage.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

[/quote]

There are no absolute cuts in the act that specifically target hospice. There are (almost) across the board cuts in whats called the “market basket increase”. This isn’t technically a cut, but rather a reduction in possible increases in reimbursements. Additionally, there is a provision for some possible (maybe probable?) additional cuts related to revenue neutrality subject to negotiations of per diem rates with major hospice providers. But nothing that I’ve found that specifies any reduction in covered services. There are quite a few quality of care surveys specified in the plan. Some of these may ultimately set and/or reduce some limits for hospice coverage.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”

[/quote]

There are no absolute cuts in the act that specifically target hospice. There are (almost) across the board cuts in whats called the “market basket increase”. This isn’t technically a cut, but rather a reduction in possible increases in reimbursements. Additionally, there is a provision for some possible (maybe probable?) additional cuts related to revenue neutrality subject to negotiations of per diem rates with major hospice providers. But nothing that I’ve found that specifies any reduction in covered services. There are quite a few quality of care surveys specified in the plan. Some of these may ultimately set and/or reduce some limits for hospice coverage.

[bearishgurl]

SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.

[bearishgurl]

SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.

[bearishgurl]

SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.

[bearishgurl]

SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.

[bearishgurl]

SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.[/quote]

Not sure, I’ll take a look at the video later. But the date on the article is 11/22/09. The bill underwent hundreds, maybe thousands of changes before it passed 4 months later.

Medicare does pay for hospice. As does most private medical insurance (in addition to Medi-Cal and TRICARE). For those uninsured or covered by private insurance that doesn’t include hospice care, hospice care is still available at little or no cost for those that can’t afford it.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.[/quote]

Not sure, I’ll take a look at the video later. But the date on the article is 11/22/09. The bill underwent hundreds, maybe thousands of changes before it passed 4 months later.

Medicare does pay for hospice. As does most private medical insurance (in addition to Medi-Cal and TRICARE). For those uninsured or covered by private insurance that doesn’t include hospice care, hospice care is still available at little or no cost for those that can’t afford it.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.[/quote]

Not sure, I’ll take a look at the video later. But the date on the article is 11/22/09. The bill underwent hundreds, maybe thousands of changes before it passed 4 months later.

Medicare does pay for hospice. As does most private medical insurance (in addition to Medi-Cal and TRICARE). For those uninsured or covered by private insurance that doesn’t include hospice care, hospice care is still available at little or no cost for those that can’t afford it.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]SK in CV, I don’t know how 60 minutes came to that conclusion, then. IMO, insurance companies and Medicare should be willing to pay for hospice up to six months or about $50K. Acc. to 60 minutes, that’s roughly five days in the ICU.[/quote]

Not sure, I’ll take a look at the video later. But the date on the article is 11/22/09. The bill underwent hundreds, maybe thousands of changes before it passed 4 months later.

Medicare does pay for hospice. As does most private medical insurance (in addition to Medi-Cal and TRICARE). For those uninsured or covered by private insurance that doesn’t include hospice care, hospice care is still available at little or no cost for those that can’t afford it.

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