How Much Does The Medicare Coach Cost

This All Seems Like A Bad Idea How Do Insiders Feel About This When Theyre Not Being Quoted By Name

We got this from an anonymous person who was responding to our facility fee reporting.

A professional can only bill for the professional component i.e. interpretation either in or out of the hospital. In cardiology e.g. the credentialed cardiologists read all of the ECGs, including their own and bill accordingly. The government allows a facility fee if done in a hospital as an outpatient. If inpatient for a federal patient it is billed according to the diagnosis global reimbursement i.e DRG. Some cardiologists will contract for an entity to bring in equipment and that company bills the technical fee and the MD bills the reading. My understanding is that since this is not a hospital setting there is no facility fee. There was an article in the Globe about 10 years ago of a patient whose derm bill went from 150 to 600 because the dermatologist had become employed by the hospital and hence a facility fee was added in. The response below is corporate BS and minimizes the money grabbing and patient stealing done by the large systems. The hospital industry lobby is probably why La still has balance billing. ER , hospital medicine, surgery centers, endoscopy centers are all skirting the intent of the law to reign in costs. The freestanding ERs surgery centers, endoscopy, centers, cataract mills are all partnership arrangements to capture facility fees where some of that kicks back to the providers.

Medicare Outpatient Mental Health Services

Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health services, such as care youd get in a health clinic or doctors office. Youll generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for outpatient care delivered by providers that accept Medicare assignment.

Medicare covers the following types of psychotherapy :

• Psychiatric assessment
• Family counseling, when the primary goal is to treat your condition
• Alcohol misuse counseling, up to four sessions

You may need to meet other criteria to be eligible for therapy coverage, and the doctor, psychologist, or other health-care professional must accept Medicare assignment. Medicare doesnt cover certain types of therapy, such as pastoral counseling or marriage counseling.

If you need more structured or frequent treatment, Medicare Part B also covers partial hospitalization programs, which are outpatient mental health programs where treatment is provided throughout the day and doesnt require an overnight, inpatient stay. The programs are usually run through a community mental health center or a hospitals outpatient department. Services may include therapy with a mental health professional, diagnostic services, and occupational therapy . These programs dont cover meals or transportation to the facility.

Types Of Medicare Advantage Plans

There are four common types of Medicare Advantage plans to compare when making your selection.

Health Maintenance Organization

• Must receive your care from providers in your plans network except in the case of emergency care or out-of-area dialysis
• Requires choosing a primary care provider
• Typically covers prescription drugs
• Requires specialty referrals

Preferred Provider Organization

• Allows you to choose your service provider, but will cost more if you choose out of network
• Typically covers prescription drugs
• Doesnt require you to select a primary care provider
• Usually doesnt require a specialty referral

Private Fee-for-Service

• Allows you to choose any provider who agrees to accept PFFS plans
• Typically covers prescription drugs
• Doesnt require you to select a primary care provider

Special Needs Plans

• Benefits, drug coverage and provider choices are tailored to best meet the needs of the groups served by the plan.
• Membership is limited to people with specific chronic diseases or conditions that are disabling, those who require institutional or nursing home care and people who have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

Also Check: Where Do I File For Medicare

Requirement : You Must Have An Individual Npi

There are 2 types of NPIs: Type 1 and Type 2 . Medicare allows only Type 1 NPIs for solely ordering items or certifying services. Apply for an NPI in 1 of 3 ways:

How To Apply For Medicare Advantage

You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan when you first become eligible for Medicare. That may be when you turn 65 or if you qualify based on a disability. You can also pick a Medicare Advantage during the Open Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7 each year. There are also special enrollment periods you could qualify for.

If you are choosing a Medicare Advantage plan specifically for hearing coverage, you will want to do some research first. Consider plans that include:

• Earmolds
• Hearing aids
• Hearing aid cleaning and maintenance
• Hearing tests

Most importantly, make sure that a Medicare Advantage plan is the best plan for you before signing up. Saving on hearing aids does not mean that you definitely will save on the rest of your health care. It is important to weigh the pros and cons.

A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that many people spend less on health care when they have Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan, known as Medigap. That is the case even when you consider the cost of monthly premiums.

Their out-of-pocket healthcare costs are often less than the spending cap for many Medicare Advantage plans. Also, people on Original Medicare can get care from any healthcare provider in the U.S. who takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans limit coverage to a network of healthcare providers and do not always cover care out of network.

Recommended Reading: Which Medicare Plan Covers Hearing Aids

If You Need Nonmedical Assistance At Home Medicare Wont Pay

Medicare does not cover non-skilled nursing or homemaking services at home, said Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, MSW, LCSW, owner of Colorado In-Home Counseling, which serves seniors and disabled adults. This is a big gap in services for a lot of folks who need some assistance at home, like light house cleaning, help running errands, etc. Medicare does not cover this, and these agencies have an hourly minimum per week many clients cant afford.

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Best Medicare Advantage Providers Ratings

• Over-the-counter drug coverage
• Other services that promote health and wellness

You cant be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and Original Medicare at the same time. To obtain Medicare benefits youve earned through payroll deductions before retirement, you must choose one of these plans.

During the open enrollment period, which runs from Oct.15 to Dec. 7 each year, you can join, switch or drop a plan for your coverage to begin on Jan. 1. If youre already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, which starts on Jan. 1 and ends on March 31 annually. You can only make one switch during that time period.

If youre already enrolled in Original Medicare , you may be eligible to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan . You must be at least 65 years old or have certain disabilities, such as permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . If the Medicare Advantage plan you choose doesnt already have prescription drug coverage, you will have the option to enroll in Part D.

Read Also: What Is Medicare Catastrophic Coverage

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

The cost of pelvic floor physical therapy is $225 for the first consultation and then $180 after that for each 45-minute session for women who are pregnant or have delivered a child. In a pelvic-floor rehabilitation program to improve bladder health, sessions may cost anywhere from $400 to $600.

Many patients struggling with incontinence prefer paying the lower pelvic floor physical therapy costs since they can prevent the need for surgery. Incontinence surgeries can range from $1,000 to $10,000.

The health of the pelvic floor muscle group is important for bladder control, relieving constipation, and overall reproductive health in men and women. Sometimes pelvic-floor physical therapy sessions could be part of a larger treatment plan supervised by mental health professionals, general physicians, and even sex therapists.

Can You Give Me Some Examples

A woman in New Orleans named Nancy DuBois had a sore shoulder. She went to a sports medicine clinic and got a diagnosis of frozen shoulder. She paid a doctor bill, and a co-pay, but later also received a bill of $1,434.01 for a facility fee. She was responsible for $137. She learned that Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, where she went, is part of Tulane Medical Center.

One person had a colonoscopy with a charge of $2,312 the individual paid $844: Was charged three initial different fees, for MD, facility, and lab work, all reduced via contract, not payment: 426, reduced to 285 1400, reduced to 279, and 486 reduced to 280, thus $2312 overall reduced to $844, zero by carrier.

When I had my colonoscopy, the total for doctor, anesthesia and pathology was around $2,700. I paid a $30 co-pay four times: for doctor, anesthesia, pathology and a visit for a prep briefing. In my case, there was no facility fee the procedure took place in a doctors office.

My girlfriends took place at a GI center, not her doctors office, and the biggest line item on the bill was $2,700, for the facility fee, of which the insurer paid a bit less than half. She was not asked to pay the balance.

Also Check: How Much Does Medicare Deduct From Social Security

Medicare Advantage Plan Annual Prices By Location

Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap called the donut hole, which means theres a temporary limit on what the drug plan will cover. A person gets limited coverage while in the donut hole. whether on a Medicare Advantage plan or a separate Part D plan, says Antinea Martin-Alexander, founder of Advocate Insurance Group in South Carolina. The individual will pay no more than 25% of the cost of the medication in the donut hole until a total out of $6,550 in out of pocket expenses is reached. There are different items that contribute to the out-of-pocket expenses while in the donut hole: any yearly drug deductible you may have, copays for any and all your medications, what the manufacturers discount is on that medication and what the insurance company pays for that medication, she says.

Overlake Medical Center And Clinics And Regence

Effective January 1,2019, Overlake Medical Center and Clinics will no longer be contracted with Regence Medicare Advantage, HMO and PPO insurance plans.

You can select a new Medicare Advantage during Annual Enrollment. Overlake Medical Center and Clinics will be in-network with the following Medicare Advantage HMO PPO and HMO-SNP plans in 2019: Aetna, Humana, Kaiser Permanente of WA, Premera Blue Cross, and United Healthcare/AARP.

Contact The Medicare Coach if you, a loved one or a friend needs assistance.

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Medicare Coverage Of Preventive Mental Health Services

Medicare Part B covers preventive services that address your mental health, including screenings to identify your risk for depression or substance abuse. You generally need to get these services from a Medicare-assigned health provider in a Medicare-enrolled facility to make sure Part B covers them.

Preventive benefits related to mental health coverage include:

• Depression screening: All Medicare Part B beneficiaries are covered for one depression screening every year at no cost, so long as the doctor accepts Medicare assignment.
• Alcohol misuse screening: All Medicare Part B beneficiaries who arent alcohol-dependent are covered for one alcohol misuse screening every year. If your doctor determines you misuse alcohol, you may qualify for up to four counseling sessions per year.
• Welcome to Medicare visit: This one-time preventive exam includes a review of your overall health and includes an evaluation of your risk for depression. The visit is completely covered if you have the visit within the first year of having Medicare Part B.
• Wellness visit: After the introductory visit, all Medicare Part B enrollees are covered for one preventive visit every year. If you have any questions or concerns about your mental well-being, youll have the chance to speak with your doctor during this exam. Your doctor may discuss treatment options or refer you for additional care.

Ways Medicare Members Win With Healthcare Delivery

Older adults may remember family doctors making house calls. They would travel to visit bedridden patients, with a trusty black bag in-hand. But now, everything old is new again. DispatchHealth deliv-ers high-quality medical care to people of all ages, in the comfort of their homes. And while healthcare delivery may sound too good to be true, DispatchHealth house call services are available for Medicare members.

Upon contacting DispatchHealth via a quick call to 553-0937, you can typically expect in-home care within a few hours. That team includes a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, along with a medical technician. DispatchHealth can treat a wide range of complex illnesses and injuries, such as urinary tract infection , respiratory infections, fall injuries, the flu, sutures and more, all within a patients home.

his is part of a growing trend toward in-home care across the healthcare spectrum. Here are five ways members benefit from DispatchHealths modern-day house call:

Amid a challenging healthcare environment, chalk up a win with a DispatchHealth medical call.

To learn more, visit dispatchealth.com.

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If You Delay You May Have To Pay

You have 7 months to sign up for Medicare. That time starts 3 months before you turn 65, the month of your birthday, and 3 months following your birthday. Some people will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, but others have to sign up. If you are unsure if you are automatically enrolled, it is a good idea to check with the Social Security office.

If you’re not automatically enrolled and dont enroll in Medicare during your open enrollment period, you will pay a penalty for enrolling at a later date. This penalty will occur every month you have Medicare.

The same is true if you delay enrollment in a Part D plan for prescription drugs. So dont wait until youre sick or need costly medicine before you sign up.

This penalty doesnt apply if you have coverage through your job. But since some employers may require you to enroll in Medicare, check with your HR department before you turn 65.

What Is A Facility Fee

Hospitals often charge a facility fee on top of a doctors fee or a fee for performing a service.

Federal law allows hospitals to charge facility fees for outpatient services at affiliated clinics, even if theyre not near a hospital. The clinics may look just like a private practice, but the fact that theyre affiliated with a hospital means they can charge that extra fee.

We have heard of people who went to the same clinic for a visit a year apart, and the second visit incurred a facility fee because the clinic had been acquired by a hospital.

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What Are Medicaid And Medicare

Some of the most commonly used methods for paying for drug and alcohol rehab, Medicaid and Medicare are federal- and state-funded health insurance programs. These insurance programs can provide free or low-cost drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Each program has different requirements for eligibility.

Medicare and Medicaid may cover part or all of your substance abuse treatment costs.

Every state has different rules for eligibility and treatment coverage. Rules for eligibility also change annually. If you were turned down for Medicaid or Medicare in the past, you could be eligible now.

Break free from addiction.

Screening Vs Diagnostic Hearing Tests

Screening tests are performed on people who may be at risk for a medical condition but who do not currently have symptoms. Diagnostic tests, on the other hand, are performed when someone already has symptoms. They are not simply at risk for a condition, they already have one.

Original Medicare does not cover routine screening tests for hearing but does cover diagnostic tests for hearing-related conditions.

Recommended Reading: Is Aetna A Medicare Advantage Plan

How Do Providers Defend Facility Fees

In our partnership in New Orleans, our partners Jed Lipinski at NOLA.com I The Times-Picayune and Lee Zurik at WVUE Fox 8 Live news added to our knowledge.

Lipinski asked LCMC Health, owner of several big New Orleans hospitals: Why does your organization apply facility fees to your patients bills?

The response:

Services that take place within a hospital outpatient department are separated into two bills one for the services of the physician and the other for all other costs. These non-physician charges reflect costs for all non-physician activity, including items such as equipment, utilities, maintenance, supplies and non-physician staff, such as nurses and other staff. When a physician provides a service in a hospital department, the physician bills a reduced service fee because the hospital, not the physician, is responsible for the practice expense associated with the visit, including all other non-physician support staff.

We are committed to transparency for our patients and community. We encourage patients to call to discuss any financial questions or request a detailed bill. Residents of Louisiana may also be eligible for Financial Assistance. Patients can contact our Financial Counseling office at for additional information.

Heres Tulanes statement, from Sarah Balyeat at HCA Healthcare: