Medicare Advantage

Reports forecast Medicare funding boost, dim overall outlook

McKnight's Staff April 23, 2012

The Affordable Care Act will help Medicare save over $200 billion through 2016, according to government actuaries. But questions as to Medicare's long-term solvency remain, another report from Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees states.

Low-quality Medicare Advantage plans should expect scrutiny, CMS says

McKnight's Staff April 13, 2012

Medicare Advantage plans with fewer than five stars on the quality scale should expect some form of audit, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid official said this week.

Troubling steps ahead for Nursing Home Compare?

John O'Connor April 13, 2012

A newly announced plan to mine data from Medicare Advantage plans might give many operators an unexpected spine shiver.

Report: Improper Medicare Advantage payments fell $1.2 billion in 2011

McKnight's Staff April 02, 2012

Recovery audit contractors and other quality assurance efforts allowed Medicare Advantage to reduce improper payments by $1.2 billion in 2011, according to a new government report.

Report: Correcting Medicare Advantage overpayments could save billions

January 27, 2012

Correcting overpayments in the Medicare Advantage program could save the federal government billions of dollars, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Report: Correcting Medicare Advantage overpayments could save billions

January 27, 2012

Correcting overpayments in the Medicare Advantage program could save the federal government billions of dollars, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Medicare Advantage overwhelming for those with impaired cognition, study says

August 19, 2011

Seniors with cognitive impairments are overwhelmed by options in Medicare Advantage, a new study suggests.

GAO: Medicare spent $48 billion on improper fee-for-service payments

July 29, 2011

The federal government spent nearly $48 billion on improper Medicare payments in 2010 according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The report was released just prior to a House Oversight Committee hearing on government efficiency.

HHS gives Medicare Advantage plans a $6.7 billion infusion

April 21, 2011

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is giving Medicare Advantage plans $6.7 billion in quality bonuses to take the heat off service cuts authorized under the Affordable Care Act, the Associated Press reported.

CMS's Berwick defends Medicare Advantage projections

February 11, 2011

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick surprised lawmakers Thursday when he reported better-than-expected Medicare Advantage enrollment numbers. In just his second occasion before a Congressional panel, Berwick appeared before the U.S. House Ways and Means committee to discuss how the Affordable Care Act will impact seniors.

CMS issues notice of sanctions to Medicare Advantage insurer

May 19, 2010

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week informed Medicare Advantage insurer Quality Health Plans of its intent to impose intermediate sanctions and a civil monetary penalty (CMP) on the company due to its failure to comply with certain requirements. QHP is the third insurer in as many months to come under fire from CMS for non-compliance.