Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol

Uncle Sam Tries to Get Back Millions in Medicare Fraud

18. August 2010

The federal government is spending millions to get back billions from Medicare fraudsters. Government agencies got $300 million from the feds to investigate Medicare fraud, which costs Uncle Sam about $60 billion a year, according to a report at All247News.com. A third of all fraud originates in Florida, the story reports.

Group Studies Rural Wisconsin Medicare Obstacles

16. August 2010

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A new group is trying to improve delivery of home health services in western Wisconsin that qualify for Medicare reimbursement. Poor staffing and misconceptions about reimbursement from the federal medical program were two key issues identified by the group at a meeting last weekend in Sparta. Registered nurse Pat Conway explained it best in a [...]

Beware Medicare Part D Scams

12. August 2010

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In Arkansas, fraudsters are trying to get Medicare patients to dole out personal information as part of a Medicare Part D scam. TodaysTHV.com describes the scam: Already, fraudsters have been calling beneficiaries asking for personal information, including bank account and social security numbers, as well as to confirm Medicare numbers to “make sure the rebate [...]

Second Round of “Donut Hole” Rebates in the Mail

9. July 2010

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About 300,000 seniors still waiting for their $250 “donut hole” rebate for Medicare Part D could get the check in the mail at any time. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said this week that the checks were in the mail. This is the second round of checks sent; the first went out [...]

Suit: Surgeons Overbilled Medicare

9. July 2010

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A lawsuit claims at least six orthopedic surgeons and a Chicago hospital bilked Medicare for surgeries physicians didn’t attend. The lawsuit was filed by two whistleblowers, a former employee and a surgeon, The Wall Street Journal reports. The suit claims that a greedy relationship with Zimmer Holdings Inc. – a device maker – got surgeons into [...]

Obama Appointed New Medicaid/Medicare Chief

9. July 2010

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This week, President Obama appointed Dr. Donald Berwick as the chief of Medicare and Medicaid. Berwick is an expert at reducing healthcare costs, according to The New York Times. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been without a leader for four years.

Funding for Early Retirement Benefits Announced

30. June 2010

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Wisconsin businesses can sign up for federal assistance to help pay early retirement benefits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set up the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, a $5 billion temporary reinsurance program for employer-based health plans that cover retirees between the ages of 55 to 64. “This reinsurance program is among [...]

“Donut Hole” Checks Coming to Wisconsin Seniors

14. June 2010

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Have you reached your coverage gap in Medicare Part D? Then be looking for a $250 rebate check from Uncle Sam. Last week, the federal government started sending out the checks to help seniors with prescription and other expenses that fall into the “donut hole.” Next year, seniors who reach this gap will get half [...]

Wisconsin to Get $32M in Medicare Underpayment

1. June 2010

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Wisconsin is one of a handful of states that will receive part of $400 million in Medicare underpayments. The state will get about 8 percent of the funds to help offset past underpayments made by the federal insurance program. Lawmakers from several states, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Washington and Minnesota, argued for part of the healthcare [...]

Hospitals Fined for Overcharging Medicare

23. May 2010

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Nine hospitals in seven states will pay more than $9 million in fines for overcharging Medicare for a spinal procedure. The Justice Department says the hospitals overcharged for kyphoplasty, which is used for patients who suffer spinal fractures. Many have osteoporoses. According to Occupational Health & Safety‘s Web site, hospitals used the surgery to keep [...]