GAO report slams 'information gap' in Medicare HMOs

Article Abstract:

A General Accounting Office (GAO) report commissioned by the Senate Aging Committee concludes that health care service Medicare has done very little to help its beneficiaries choose among health plans (HMOs). The GAO singled out an information gap that slows service and forces users to embark on time-consuming investigations as Medicare's chief failing. The agency is asking the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to produce standardized formats in HMO informational materials, comparison charts for all market areas and summary results of HCFA visits to monitor HMOs.

Health Care Financing Admin, Social policy, Membership, United States. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United States. Government Accountability Office

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To pay or not to pay - that's a lingering telemedicine question

Article Abstract:

How and if Medicare should cover telemedicine services is under debate. Currently, Medicare does not cover experimental telecommunication services where patients and physicians would be face to face, but does cover services where direct interaction is not normally needed. Officials are leaning toward paying if the service provided is like what patients would receive in physicians' offices and can be valued under the current system. Services which do not meet this criteria will have to be evaluated, as well as the transmission costs, for coverage.

Medicare B, Medicare A, Medicine, Finance, Telecommunications systems, Teleconferencing

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Can Medicare HMOs cope with end-stage renal disease?

Article Abstract:

Organizations representing kidney patients and their physicians are questioning whether Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMO) can effectively treat patients with end-stage renal disease. In response, four health plans are conducting a study to demonstrate the benefits and quality of care offered by Medicare HMOs. Medicare's end-stage renal program has about 232,000 beneficiaries at an annual cost of nearly $10 bil.

Care and treatment, Research, Kidney diseases

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