Healthcare Financial News

The Senate on Sept. 24 approved legislation (HR 1343) that would provide funding for community health centers. The bill would authorize $13.1 billion for the centers through FY12. President Bush, who has touted the centers as a key resource for the uninsured, in his FY09 budget proposed a $27 million increase in funding for the centers to about $2.1 billion. The Senate measure would provide $2.2 billion in FY09, increasing to $3.3 billion in FY12. The Senate also approved an amendment to the bill that would reauthorize programs that encourage health providers to practice in medically underserved areas and health programs for rural areas. The bill now returns to the House. Download the bill.

In announcing the 2009 Medicare prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plan options on Sept. 25, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Kerry Weems encouraged Medicare beneficiaries to review how their prescription drug plans (PDPs) are changing and what other options are available to them. Approximately 97 percent of beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone PDP will have access to Medicare drug and health plans in 2009 whose premiums would be the same or less than their coverage in 2008.

“Plans do change their offerings from year to year,” said Weems. “Some beneficiaries may see significant premium increases or changes, such as reduced coverage in the gap, if they stay in the same prescription drug plan in 2009.”

In every state, beneficiaries will have access to at least one prescription drug plan with premiums of less than $20 a month, except in Alaska, where the premium is $23 a month. Those who qualify for the full Medicare subsidy will pay no premiums or deductibles in these plans. The national average monthly premium for the basic Medicare drug benefit in 2009 is projected to average approximately $28. Read the press release.