2023 November

Medicare Leaving Gaps in Care

Medicare is leaving large numbers of the program’s beneficiaries without at least some of the care they need. According to the Commonwealth Fund’s annual health care affordability survey, One-third of Medicare beneficiaries said it was difficult to afford health care costs, including more than half of beneficiaries under age 65. More than one in five beneficiaries reported delaying or skipping needed health care because of the cost, including more than four in 10 under age 65. More than one in five beneficiaries said health care costs made it harder for them to afford food and utility bills, including more than [...]

iqtsupport2023-11-02T06:00:32-04:00November 2, 2023|Medicare|

Telehealth Serving Some Medicare Patients Well

Medicare patients with serious mental health problems were well-served through telehealth during the COVID-19 crisis. According to a new study published by the JAMA Network, such patients experienced … 13.0% more mental health visits than those receiving care at practices that largely used in-person visits. There were no changes in medication adherence, hospital and emergency department use, or mortality based on the extent of telemental health use. The study’s findings support continued use of telehealth for Medicare patients with mental health problems even now that the greatest threat of the pandemic has passed. Learn more about how the study was [...]

iqtsupport2023-11-01T13:00:57-04:00November 1, 2023|Medicare, Telehealth|

Medicaid Now Covering Care on the Street

Medicaid is now paying providers for “street medicine”: care provided to the homeless and delivered on the street as opposed to in traditional medical settings such as clinics, offices, and hospitals. For years, programs throughout the country have focused on enrolling the homeless in Medicaid and, whether they are insured by Medicaid or not, providing care to such individuals right on the street. Traditionally, however, such care has almost always been rejected for payment by Medicaid. Beginning in October, however, Medicaid began reimbursing providers for such care. The homeless, providers have long maintained, are in dire need of care to [...]

iqtsupport2023-11-01T06:00:43-04:00November 1, 2023|Medicaid|

November 2023

Medicare Leaving Gaps in Care

Telehealth Serving Some Medicare Patients Well

Medicaid Now Covering Care on the Street