What's Changing
Congress has acted to delay the new competitive bidding program that started on July 1, 2008.
What You Need to Know
You now can continue to get your Medicare-covered equipment and supplies from any Medicare-approved supplier. If you changed your supplier when this new program started, you can continue to use the new supplier, or choose another supplier.
Medicare is continuing to make sure you can get the supplies and services you need. We will post more information about the new program in the future.
For the most up-to-date list of all Medicare-approved suppliers in your area, visit Find Suppliers of Medical Equipment in Your Area.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
This tool provides you with information on how well the hospitals care for all their adult patients with certain conditions or procedures. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide as the measures show how often hospitals provide some of the care that is recommended for patients being treated for a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia, or patients having surgery. This tool also displays the Survey of Patients’ Hospital Experiences, using data collected from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey. Information on inpatient hospital payment information and the number of Medicare patients treated (volume) for certain illnesses are also displayed.
Medicare & You contains important information about what's new, health plans, prescription drug plans, and rights and protections to help people with Medicare review their coverage options and prepare to enroll in a new plan if they choose. It is available in both English and Spanish.
Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mails a geographic-specific version to all households of people with Medicare. In 2008, there are 59 geographic-specific versions with drug and health plan comparison charts for particular states or regions.
HealthDay - THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Shelley Volz, now 59, got
the news about her breast cancer diagnosis 10 years ago, right before she
was headed from San Francisco to New York for the wedding of her younger
brother.
HealthDay - THURSDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Two genes linked to breast,
thyroid and kidney cancer have been identified by Cleveland Clinic
researchers. The discovery of the genes SDHB and SDHD could help improve
early detection of these cancers and boost patients' chances of survival.
Reuters - New research suggests that just
because a woman has family members with breast cancer, it does
not mean that she should undergo early screening for the
cancer. According to the report, there are certain factors
doctors can look for to determine whether early screening is
advisable.
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Physical activity can
reduce the risk of colon cancer, but few American adults are aware of
this, a new study shows.
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- A fifth of British adults
who survived childhood cancers currently smoke, while almost a third were
regular smokers at one time in their lives, a new study reports.
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Vietnam veterans exposed to
the defoliant Agent Orange have a significantly greater risk of prostate
cancer, especially the most aggressive form of the disease, a new study
contends.
Reuters - A new technique for culturing
cancer cells from a virulent form of brain cancer affecting
children and infants may speed development of a treatment for
the disease, researchers at the University of Calgary said on
Wednesday.
Reuters - Current dietary guidelines are
on the right track when it comes to colorectal cancer
prevention, new research from the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) confirms.
Medicare Supplement
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