Key Provisions and Policies for People with Medicare
Tanya L. Burns, LUTCF, RHU, LTCP
Congress passed and The President signed The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA of 2018). Shown below are some of The Bill’s major provisions:
- Funds Medicare Outreach and Enrollment Activities. Extends for two years current funding levels for community-based organizations to conduct outreach and enrollment of low-income Medicare Beneficiaries.
- Closes the “Donut Hole” Faster. Under the BBA of 2018, certain drug manufacturers will be required to give larger discounts to beneficiaries in the Part D coverage gap starting next year.
- Permanently Repeals the Medicare Therapy Caps. Permanently repeals the Medicare Part B payment cap on outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies effective January 1, 2018.
- Expands Services & Coverage in Medicare Advantage. Includes the creating of High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act. Increases services in Medicare Advantage for beneficiaries with complex medical conditions.
- Changes the Home Health Benefit. Makes several changes to the Medicare Home Health benefit payment structure and eligibility determinations process.
- Increases Medicare Premiums. To help pay for the budget’s extensive policy funding changes, it includes a number of offsets. Medicare Part B and Part D premiums will increase slightly beginning in January 2019.
Stay tuned for details as we learn more!
Prepared by:
Tanya L. Burns, LUTCF, RHU, LTCP
Tanya L. Burns and Associates, Inc.
tanya@tanyalburns.com