Temporary Medicaid Blackout Yesterday, President Trump’s administration announced a freeze on federal grants and loans to assess their alignment with the administration’s priorities. Although Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid were supposed to be exempt, the freeze (caused by an inadvertent server “outage” according to the Trump administration) temporarily affected Medicaid payment portals, causing great concern […]
2025 Key Elder Law Numbers
When Walt Disney said, “Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future,” his words referenced how inevitable change is, how quickly it can occur, and how we must continuously look to the future. The meaning behind this quote and the ever-changing world in which we live […]
Medicare Open Enrollment Updates for 2025
For those enrolled in Medicare, you will soon have the opportunity to make changes to your health and prescription drug coverage. Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment begins on October 15 and lasts through December 7, 2024. During this time, those with Medicare can make changes to their Medicare coverage which will go into effect on January […]
How Does the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model Help Dementia Patients and Caregivers?
Dear Kiwi and Mango, I heard somewhere that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the GUIDE Model for people with dementia and their caregivers? What is this all about? Thanks for your help! Cara Givva — Dear Cara, People living with dementia often experience multiple chronic conditions, as well as high rates […]
Navigating the Complexity of Medicaid and Medicare Dual Eligibility
Q. I am aware that many people are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. How does dual eligibility work? It seems like anything involving Medicaid and/or Medicare can be pretty complicated. Can you tell me more about it and if/how these two programs are somehow integrated? Thanks for your help! A. Please note that this […]
One-Stop Resource for Medicare Offerings
Dear Angel, I recently signed up for Medicare. What is the best place to go to find out about all of the offerings, including preventative care and chronic care management? Thanks for your help! Juan Stopp — Dear Juan, Coverage to Care initiative created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help […]
Happy Birthday Medicare!
Dear Kiwi and Mango, I understand that July 30 marks the 59th birthday of Medicare. I will be 65 early next year. What should I do and what resources can I count on for more information before I sign up? Thanks for your help! Cella Brate — Dear Cella, You are correct! Next month marks […]
Should I Enroll in Medicare if I have Federal Retiree Coverage?
Q. In your latest article, you discuss how elder care lawyers help seniors with planning in advance for the financial and health concerns that occur as we age. I really appreciate the assistance and advice your elder law firm provides. I am a retired federal employee who will be 65 next year. I was wondering […]
What Does Medicare’s New Rule Mean for Prior Authorization?
Q. My wife and I are currently on Medicare. Something problematic that we have experienced is that when we go to a doctor’s appointment and need a referral, we cannot go to a specialist or get some much-needed medications without prior approval. It may take days, weeks, or even months for a necessary test or […]
Final Guidance Issued This Week to Help People with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Dear Kiwi and Mango, Although I’m on Medicare, the costs for my prescription drugs are still quite high, and frankly, I’m having trouble affording them. I heard something about a new guidance that was recently released to help people like me with costly prescription drugs. What is that all about? Thanks so much for your […]
Our Top 23 Articles of 2023
Happy New Year! As our loyal readers know, we’ve covered a lot of ground in 2023. From incredible technological advances involving artificial intelligence to new diagnostic methods and treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, technology continues to have a major impact on our lives. In addition, inflation continues to play a major role in the confidence […]
2024 Key Elder Law Numbers
When Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a-changin’,” his lyrics referenced societal changes in the 1960s. The same lyrics could also apply to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security today. Every year, the Farr Law Firm releases the newest figures for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and an analysis of important developments, statuses, and updates […]
Navigating Open Enrollment: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Offers Three Helpful Resources
Dear Kiwi and Mango, Medicare Open Enrollment is right around the corner. Are there some helpful, reliable resources I can use to help make decisions about coverage? Thanks for your help! Dee Tales — Dear Dee, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), an independent source for health policy research, polling, and news (no relationship to the Kaiser […]
Part 2: When Artificial Intelligence and Health Don’t Mix
This is part two of a two-part series. In part one, “Is CMS’s Latest Effort Enough to Hold Medicare Advantage Companies Accountable?” I described how CMS plans to hold Medicare Advantage (MA) companies to higher standards for America’s seniors. This includes cracking down on misleading marketing tactics for Medicare Advantage plans, as well as […]
Part 1: Is CMS’s Latest Effort Enough to Hold Medicare Advantage Companies Accountable?
This is part one of a two-part series. The first part describes the recent rule to “strengthen Medicare Advantage (MA) and hold health insurance companies to higher standards for America’s seniors and people with disabilities by cracking down on misleading marketing schemes by MA plans.” Part 2 will describe how MA insurance companies have been […]
Might Your Next “Hospital Stay” Be at Home?
Q. My friend’s father recently suffered from pneumonia. Rather than being admitted to the hospital, he was offered another choice: hospital-level treatment in his home. I had never heard of such a thing. Is this type of care common? And is it covered by Medicare? Thanks so much for your help! A. Since the COVID-19 […]
Why Should Gen Z’s and Millennials Care about Social Security?
Dear Oakley, I was born in 1997 and am therefore considered Gen Z. My wife, who is two years older and a millennial, and I are many decades away from retirement. When it comes to my generation and my wife’s, why should we be at all concerned with Social Security when it will probably never […]
What the New Enhanced Auditing of Medicare Advantage Means for You
Q. I remember reading in one of your articles this past fall that some of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers are submitting inflated bills and that it’s one of the reasons everything is so much more expensive for plan enrollees. I also heard that the way Medicare Advantage plans are currently audited is a big […]
Will the Inflation Reduction Act Affect Seniors on Medicare?
Dear Angel, I heard about the Inflation Reduction Act and am hoping it will help Americans during this challenging time. With the rise in cost of everything these days, we can certainly use all the help we can get. What I’m wondering is… how does the Act affect seniors who are on Medicare? Thanks for […]
Our 22 Top Articles of 2022
Those who read our newsletter or follow our blog know that we covered a lot of ground this past year. The COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency has been in place for more than two and a half years at this time, and although things feel much more normal now, new variants are still emerging. Luckily, […]
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