The Palm Beach Post's veteran Washington correspondent, Larry Lipman, tracks policy makers and interest groups who are shaping the future of the federal health insurance program for the elderly.
Medicare at a glance
Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
Part A
Covers inpatient hospital care as well as nursing home, home health and hospice care. Nearly all elderly and disabled Americans qualify for Part A coverage.
Financed by a 2.9 percent payroll tax divided equally between employees and employers.
Part B
Covers outpatient care, doctor’s services, durable medical equipment, home health visits and preventive care. Part B coverage is voluntary, but roughly 40 million are enrolled.
Financed by beneficiary premiums and federal general revenue. Current monthly premiums are $93.50. Starting this year, individuals whose taxable income is more than $80,000 will pay a higher premium.
Part C
Medicare Advantage managed care plans provide health care normally covered by Medicare Parts A and B. They may also provide some other benefits, including prescription drugs, not covered by traditional Medicare. Oart C is voluntary; about 7 million beneficiaries are enrolled.
Financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
Part D
Medicare prescription drug plans come in two types, those that just cover prescription drugs and those that cover drugs as part of a broader managed care benefit. Part D is voluntary. About 9.2 million beneficiaries are in stand-alone drug plans and about 5.1 million are in managed care drug plans.
The plans are private and financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans. -- Larry Lipman
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus just told reporters he has a “gut sense there is some wiggle room,” regarding President Bush’s threat to veto the House-passed Medicare bill that would avert a 10.6 percent physician pay cut.
Baucus acknowledged he has not had any communications with the White House which would indicate that Bush would not follow through on the threat, but the senator said he would not describe the threat as “Shermanesque,” — there was “some daylight.”
Since the Senate came up one vote short of the 60 needed for cloture before it recessed two weeks ago, Baucus said he’s received indications from some GOP senators that they might change their vote if there is another cloture vote, possibly Wednesday or Thursday. But Baucus wouldn’t say which senators have indicated they might switch.
Baucus said the president may be dissuaded from vetoing the bill depending on the size of the vote. The House passed the bill with a 355-59 veto-proof margin last month.
What Are Medication-Related Problems and How Do They Effect Seniors?
Many seniors open up their medicine cabinets each morning to a wall of pill bottles as a part of their morning routine. If you or your loved one is taking multiple medications for multiple conditions, you may want to consider reviewing all of your medications with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that you are not the victim of medication-related problems. Medication-related problems are defined as events or situations related to drug therapy that have negative effects on a patient’s health. The 8 ways to classify medication-related problems are as follows:
Overdosage is when a patient receives too much medication as treatment for his/her conditions.
Subtheraputic dosage is when a patient receives too little medication as treatment for his/her conditions.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by an adverse reaction or effect of drug therapy.
Drug Interaction is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by the negative interaction of a drug therapy with food, another drug therapy, or laboratory.
Failure to Receive Medication is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by the patient’s inability to receive medication for any reason
Untreated Condition is when the patient is suffering from a condition but not receiving any type of drug therapy
Drug Use Without Indication is when a patient is receiving drug therapy for a non-existent condition
Improper Drug Selection is when a patient is receiving the wrong drug therapy for their condition
Because aging inevitably brings increased medical conditions, it also brings increased medications. It is important to be proactive and be clear as to what medications you take and how they treat your conditions. Be aware of the medication-related problems listed above and you can avoid unnecessary medical conditions and issues that come with them.
[http://www.homehealthseniorcare.com]
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By Bill Jackson
July 30, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
What Are Medication-Related Problems and How Do They Effect Seniors? Many seniors open up their medicine cabinets each morning to a wall of pill bottles as a part of their morning routine. If you or your loved one is taking multiple medications for multiple conditions, you may want to consider reviewing all of your medications with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that you are not the victim of medication-related problems. Medication-related problems are defined as events or situations related to drug therapy that have negative effects on a patient’s health. The 8 ways to classify medication-related problems are as follows:
Overdosage is when a patient receives too much medication as treatment for his/her conditions. Subtheraputic dosage is when a patient receives too little medication as treatment for his/her conditions. Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by an adverse reaction or effect of drug therapy. Drug Interaction is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by the negative interaction of a drug therapy with food, another drug therapy, or laboratory. Failure to Receive Medication is when a patient is suffering from a condition that has been caused by the patient’s inability to receive medication for any reason Untreated Condition is when the patient is suffering from a condition but not receiving any type of drug therapy Drug Use Without Indication is when a patient is receiving drug therapy for a non-existent condition Improper Drug Selection is when a patient is receiving the wrong drug therapy for their condition Because aging inevitably brings increased medical conditions, it also brings increased medications. It is important to be proactive and be clear as to what medications you take and how they treat your conditions. Be aware of the medication-related problems listed above and you can avoid unnecessary medical conditions and issues that come with them.
[http://www.homehealthseniorcare.com]