by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 21, 2022 | Fight the Good Fight, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
I haven’t been able to get this patient off my mind. He’s a kind and likable man who was active in his church and living independently, despite an above-knee amputation on one side and chronic lymphedema of the other leg. He had made a living as a truck driver until...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 3, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information seeking public comment on the Medicare Advantage program. The goal of this program was described as, “more equitable, high quality, and person-centered care that is affordable...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Sep 30, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
Here’s a new post from our Patient Correspondent, Patricia Han, RN, about Medicare Drug Plans. She’s a retired nurse with many chronic health problems who used to be employed by a payer. I always learn something that a doctor ought to know from her real world examples...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 10, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
Why my patient with Medicare Advantage does not have any wound dressings, even though he has had “skilled home health” for 3 weeks. And to make this more fun, my hospital says we are spending too much staff time on each patient so we need to see them faster. This...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 27, 2021 | Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
This is a 61 year old patient with weeping legs due to edema from heart failure. When I first saw her, I did arterial screening with skin perfusion pressure and her SPP values were 54 mmHg and 60 mmHg with a reasonable pulse volume recording, which means she doesn’t...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 12, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
Here’s another story from Patricia Han about her Medicare “Disadvantage” plan: –Caroline I started looking for a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan in 2013. I studied every plan in detail. As I have mentioned, I am a nurse and have worked in the insurance industry and...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 11, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
If your practice is like mine, an increasing percentage of your patients have Medicare Advantage (MA), rather than traditional Medicare fee for service (FFS). If you are like me, you have been frustrated with the inability to get their Medicare “Advantage” plan to pay...
