In the latest effort to enlist seniors in the fight against Medicare fraud, federal officials have overhauled Medicare billing statements to make it easier to find bogus charges without a magnifying glass.
The new, more consumer-friendly format, which goes online Saturday on Medicare’s secure Web site, www.mymedicare.gov, includes larger type and explanations of medical services in plain English. The revised paper version, which is mailed to seniors every three months, will be phased in early next year.
“You can make a difference!” the revamped statement says. “Last year Medicare saved taxpayers $4 billion – the largest sum ever reported in a single year thanks to people who reported suspicious activity to Medicare.”
And for those who might need an incentive to scour their bills, the new statements promise a reward of up to $1,000 for a tip that leads to uncovering fraud. Although the bonus isn’t new, there’s no mention of it on current forms, which are sent to about 36 million beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.
“We approached this redesign from the standpoint of making it a more consumer-friendly document for beneficiaries and also a better fraud-fighting tool,” said Erin Pressley, director of creative services for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “If they are paying attention to these documents, they are going to be the best defense we have.”
“It shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt,” she added.
Showing posts with label CMS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMS. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The 2012 best and the not so best nursing homes
A recent USA Today report reveals that 560 of the nation’s nursing homes have not budged for the past three years from a one-star federal government rating — the lowest on a five-star scale.
The star ratings are part of a broader federal effort to increase transparency for consumers of health care. When introduced in late 2008, nursing home industry groups called them simplistic and unfair. Some consumer advocates say nursing home quality can change quickly, and no ratings system is perfect.
The share of nursing homes receiving one or two stars overall fell to 35% in 2011 from 40% in 2009. At the same time, four- and five-star homes increased to 43% from 38% of nursing homes. The share of three-star homes remained steady.
Click to access the ratings of over 15,000 nursing homes
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