Instructional Video on how to make the most out the services Medicare provides

Recent reforms of Medicare have been implemented to save taxpayer money and reduce instances of fraudulent claims. These reforms have created some controversy, however, as some housebound patients no longer qualify for special wheelchairs which offer mobility. For More Information contact: Info@FastFocus.TV

Barack Obama accused John McCain of wanting to cut $882 billion from Medicare on Friday, and claims that would mean seniors pay more for drugs, receive fewer services and get lower quality care. (Oct. 17)

Story of one woman unable to receive care in Farmington. New patients being turned away.

October 17, 2008, Roanoke, VA Obama: Senator McCain's been eager to share some details of his health care plan -- but not all of them. It's like those ads for prescription drugs, you know they start off everybody's running in the field and everybody's happy, then there's the little fine print that says, you know, 'side effects may include...' Now first of all, we found out that Senator McCain wants to pay for his plan by taxing your health care benefits for the first time in history, just like George Bush. That was bad enough. But the Wall Street Journal recently reported that it was actually worse than we thought. It turns out, Senator McCain would pay for part of his plan by making drastic cuts in Medicare -- $882 billion worth. $882 billion in Medicare cuts to pay for an ill-conceived, badly thought-through health care plan that won't provide more health care to people. Even though Medicare is already facing a looming shortfall. Now, this should come as no surprise, it's entirely consistent with Senator McCain's record during his 26 years in Congress where, time and again, he's opposed Medicare. In fact, Senator McCain has voted against protecting Medicare 40 times. 40 times, he's failed to stand up for Medicare. So what would Senator McCain's cuts mean for Medicare at a time when more and more Americans are relying on it? It would mean a cut of more than 20 percent in Medicare benefits next year. If you count on Medicare, it would mean fewer places to get care, and less freedom to choose your own doctors. You'll pay more for your drugs, you'll receive fewer services, you'll get lower quality care. I dont think thats right. In fact, it ain't right. When you've worked hard your whole life, and paid into the system, and done everything right, you shouldn't have the carpet pulled out from under you when you least expect it and can least afford it. It ain't right. Health care shouldn't be some kind of either-or tradeoff where our seniors get left out in the cold. It ain't right. I think every single American has a right to affordable, accessible health care.

Increasing numbers of family physicians are saying that they can no longer afford to care for Medicare patients, and cuts to physician payment in the Medicare program scheduled for 2008 and 2009 may drive more physicians from the program, forcing elderly and disabled patients from accessing needed care. To draw attention to the Medicare program and the concerns of its primary health care providers the California Academy of Family Physicians released its first Academy in Action video Web cast.

The latest Massa for Congress TV commercial

thinkprogress.org

Rick Noriega's message to supporters about John Cornyn's recent Medicare vote (7/11/08)

This is a clip of Integrated Medicare Easyclaim with PracSoft and Tyro's EFTPOS terminals. This demo incorporates Integrated EFTPOS and Integrated Easyclaim for Patient Paid Claims, Bulk Billed Claims and Gap Payments. Contact Tyro or HCN to sign up today!

Richard S. Foster, the chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), was awarded the 2006 Robert J. Myers Award for Public Service on May 16, 2006 by the American Academy of Actuaries. Foster was given the award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the public good, outstanding commitment to professionalism, the inspiration he has provided to practicing actuaries, and for the respect he commands both within and outside of the actuarial profession.

Saving the Medicare system is easy. Vic tells you how.

ABC NEWS/GOOD MORNING AMERICA: Senior With Fractured Back Battles UnitedHealthcare Oxford Health Insurance Company Medicare Advantage Plan GMA segment shows UnitedHealthcare/Oxford's Medicare Advantage Plan would not authorize woman's care due to alleged age discrimination. Audit shows Medicare Advantage providers with backlogs of unanswered patient complaints, plans that improperly denied claims, and concerns about marketing practices which do not follow government guidelines.

Pomeroy speaks in favor of overriding the president's veto of important Medicare legislation

Illinois Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with The Des Moines Register editorial board Monday, June 18. Obama talks about two large government programs - Social Security and Medicare - and their financial stability.

Representatives of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons and ARRP show their support of Congress' swift action to override a Presidential veto of the "Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act" (H.R. 6331) at a press conference at AOA headquarters in Chicago.

Prescription drug coverage will be a new benefit offered by Medicare in January 2006. This program offers an extensive overview of the new prescription drug benefit, available options and a workshop. Series: UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public [2/2006] [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 11363]

Sharyl Attkisson speaks with two former employees of Kyphon Inc., a company accused of overcharging Medicare by forcing osteoporosis patients to stay overnight in a hospital for a simple procedure.

This program from UC Davis' Center for Healthy Aging will outline strategies for getting the most benefit from the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Series: "The Coming of Age Lecture Series" [6/2006] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 11725]

Kit Bond wants to break America's promise to Seniors

The poorly funded Medicare program has faced massive deficits and is predicted to go bankrupt by the year 2019. Nancy Cordes finds out where the presidential candidates stand on this issue.

Clock ticking on Medicare payment S. 2785 Call the AMA Grassroots Hotline at (800) 833-6354 to be connected to your members of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor and pass S. 2785. Download the AMA's Medicare Physician Payment Action Kit, which includes details about the bill and how you can voice your support for it: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/14332.html Medicare physician payment rates are scheduled to be cut 10.6 percent on July 1, 2008, and an additional 5 percent or more on Jan. 1, 2009. As of April 1, there are only 91 days remaining for Congress to address this problem before the cut goes into effect. • Medicare physician payment rates today are about the same as in 2001. Rapidly eroding margins are threatening the viability of medical practices, putting health information technology purchases out of reach and leading the large cohort of practicing physicians over 55 years of age to weigh retirement. • Numerous surveys project a crisis in patient access if Medicare payments fall further behind practice cost increases: • In an AMA survey of almost 9,000 physicians, 60 percent said they would have to limit the number of new Medicare patients they treat if this year's pay cut is not stopped. • More than half the surveyed physicians said they could not meet their current payroll with a 10 percent Medicare pay cut and would be forced to reduce their staff. • The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission reports that 30 percent of Medicare patients looking for a new primary care physician already have trouble finding one. • The Medical Group Management Association finds that 24 percent of group practices already limit their acceptance of new Medicare patients. • The Council on Graduate Medical Education is predicting the country will face a shortage of 85,000 physicians by 2020. • An Association of American Medical Colleges workforce study found that 51 percent of physicians over the age of 50 cite "insufficient reimbursement" as a "very important" factor in retirement decisions. Congress has promised America's current and future seniors access to medical care. Lawmakers must fulfill their promises by acting soon to enact legislation. Ask your senators to cosponsor S. 2785, the "Save Medicare Act of 2008." Ask your representative to help enact legislation that: • Stops the pay cuts for 18 months • Extends the positive 2008 update through the rest of the year and provides a positive 2009 update that covers increases in medical practice costs • Does not increase the size or duration of Medicare physician pay cuts

http://cspanjunkie.org/ October 06, 2008 MSNBC Rachel Maddow Show

Prescription drug coverage will be a new benefit offered by Medicare in January 2006. This program offers an extensive overview of the new prescription drug benefit, available options and a workshop. Series: "UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public" [2/2006] [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 11363]

Opening statements by Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez and Ranking Member Steve Chabot