Private Medicare plans get lawmaker scrutiny
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U.S. taxpayers are subsidizing the explosive growth in a lucrative type of private health plan under Medicare, an independent advisor to the U.S. Congress told lawmakers on Wednesday.
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Private equity firms are to come under scrutiny from MPs following union criticism of the sector.
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The Mayo Clinic proposal doesnât advocate a government-run single-payer system, but urges private insurance companies to offer plans with many options.
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As some lawmakers clamor for letting  Medicare directly negotiate drug prices, Medicare's chief said  on Wednesday that the health program for the elderly could save  more money by letting the private sector set prices.
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U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen is preparing legislation that would allow states to make prescription drugs more affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans, a challenge to Bush administration policies that have thwarted such efforts in Maryland and elsewhere.
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The health insurance salesman who came to Gloria Young's house made a strong pitch. His company's private Medicare plan could meet her needs just as well and much more cheaply.
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As some lawmakers clamor for letting Medicare directly negotiate drug prices, Medicare's chief said on Wednesday that the health program for the elderly could save more money by letting the private sector set prices.
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Physician reimbursement accounts for a third of the increase, and it could become a target for political battle. Washington -- The steep rise in next year&#39;s Medicare Part B premiums can be tied in part to
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HAMILTON, Mont. -- Sen. Conrad Burns gazed at a debate audience and asked if anyone could guess who was blocking efforts in Washington to control health-care costs.
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With soaring medical costs imperiling Medicare and the federal government&#39;s financial health, Washington needs a straight answer to a key question: Can private companies deliver more medical services for less money than the government-run Medicare program
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Federal investigators said Monday that the Bush administration had improperly allowed some private health plans to limit Medicare patientsâ choice of health care providers, including doctors, nursing homes and home care agencies.
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Nearly 2 million low-income Medicare participants could be switched to different insurance plans for their prescription drug coverage next year
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Critics see the flourishing trend of fee-for-service health plans as further evidence that the government is paying private industry to take Medicare off its hands.
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Medicare faces trillions of dollars of unfunded liabilities, but legislators are constantly tempted to increase benefits and thus spending.
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Health-care initiatives aimed at federal retirees and employees are under consideration in Congress and in the Bush administration.
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Despite calls from medical experts and a prominent Republican senator for an independent office to monitor drug safety, the idea is running into obstacles on Capitol Hill.
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A top Republican lawmaker raised concerns about the US Food and Drug Administration&#39;s ability to monitor drug safety following Merck &amp; Co.