Medicare

FILE - Social Security Administration commissioner Martin O'Malley testifies on Capitol Hill, March 20, 2024, in Washington. The go-broke dates for Medicare and Social Security have been pushed back as an improving economy has contributed to changed projected depletion dates, according the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released Monday, May 6, 2024. O'Malley called the report "a measure of good news," but said, "Congress still needs to act in order to avoid what is now forecast to be, in absence of their action, a 17% cut to people's Social Security benefits." (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

Medicare and Social Security go-broke dates are pushed back in a ‘measure of good news’

The go-broke dates for benefit programs Medicare and Social Security have been pushed back as an improving economy has contributed to changed projected depletion dates, according to the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report.

FILE - Donna Cooper holds up a dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, at her home, March 1, 2024, in Front Royal, Va. The popular weight-loss drug Wegovy may be paid for by Medicare — as long as patients using it also have heart disease and need to reduce the risk of future heart attacks, strokes and other serious problems, federal officials said Thursday, March 21. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)

Medicare can pay for obesity drugs like Wegovy in certain heart patients

Cigna trims portfolio by selling Medicare business for $3.7 billion to Health Care Service Corp.

FILE - A waist is measured during an obesity prevention study in Chicago, Jan. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

New weight loss drugs are out of reach for millions of older Americans because Medicare won’t pay

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to lower prescription drug costs and protect Social Security and Medicare, Nov. 5, 2022, in Joliet, Ill. The Biden administration says the manufacturers of all of the first 10 prescription drugs it selected for Medicare’s first price negotiations have agreed to participate. Tuesday's announcement clears the way for talks that could lower their costs in coming years and gives the White House a potential political win heading into next year’s presidential election. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Biden says that all 10 drugs targeted for the first Medicare price negotiations will participate

On the campaign trail in New Hampshire, Biden sharpens attack on GOP over healthcare, taxes

President Joe Biden releases a budget aimed at getting voters’ attention: offering tax breaks for families, lowering health care costs and higher taxes on the wealthy. Biden told a New Hampshire audience the proposal would “help in a big way.”

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10 drugs targeted for Medicare price negotiations as Biden pitches cost reductions

Biden: WH focused ‘intensely’ on lowering drug costs

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Court says judge had no authority to halt Medicare Advantage plan for Delaware government retirees

Delaware’s Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling that halted the implementation of a controversial plan to move state government retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan.

Community Health Network to pay government $345M to settle Medicare fraud charges

An Indianapolis-based health network has agreed to pay the government $345 million to resolve charges it defrauded Medicare by overpaying doctors who referred patients to its facilities.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. Biden is trumpeting Medicare’s new powers to negotiate directly with drugmakers on the cost of prescription medications, but a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that any immediate political boost that Biden gets may be limited. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Biden’s Medicare price negotiation push is broadly popular. But he’s not getting much credit

An AP-NORC poll shows 76% of Americans favor allowing the federal health care program for the elderly to negotiate prices for certain prescription drugs.

President Joe Biden speaks during an event on prescription drug costs, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

10 drugs targeted for Medicare price negotiations as Biden pitches cost reductions

President Joe Biden is touting his administration’s efforts to lower medical costs. Officials on Tuesday announced the first 10 drugs that would be targeted for Medicare price negotiations.

Health care provider to pay largest Medicare fraud settlement in Maine history

Federal prosecutors say Martin’s Point Health Care Inc. will pay nearly $22.5 million to resolve allegations it submitted inaccurate codes for its Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees to increase its Medicare reimbursements.

FILE - Unidentified road workers wear protective gear against possible asbestos contamination as they load material from a road resurfacing project in downtown Libby, Mont., April 28, 2011. A health clinic in the Montana town that's plagued by deadly asbestos contamination is liable for almost $6 million in penalties and damages after it submitted hundreds of false claims for government benefits. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Judge orders Montana health clinic to pay nearly $6 million over false asbestos claims

A judge has ruled that a health clinic in a Montana town plagued by deadly asbestos contamination must pay the government almost $6 million in penalties and damages after submitting hundreds of false asbestos claims.

First lady Jill Biden speaks during an event with the National Education Association in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Jill Biden welcomes proposal for Medicare to pay for navigation services for cancer patients

Jill Biden is welcoming a federal proposal to have Medicare pay for navigation services for cancer patients.

FILE - This image provided by Eisai in January 2023 shows vials and packaging for their medication, Leqembi. On Thursday, July 6, 2023, U.S. officials granted full approval to the closely watched Alzheimer’s drug, clearing the way for Medicare and other insurance plans to begin covering the treatment for people with the brain-robbing disease. (Eisai via AP, File)

Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi has full FDA approval now and that means Medicare will pay for it

U.S. officials have granted full approval to a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug for patients with early stages of the disease.

FILE - Pharmaceuticals are seen in North Andover, Mass., on June 15, 2018. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, is suing over plans laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act to give the federal coverage program more control over its pharmaceutical costs. PhRMA said in a federal court complaint filed Wednesday, June 21, 2023, that the act forces drugmakers to agree to a “government-dictated price” under the threat of a heavy tax. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, file)

Drugmaker lobbying group sues over plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices

A key drugmaker lobbying group has joined the legal fight against the federal government’s plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices.

FILE - A Merck scientist conducts research on Feb. 28, 2013, in West Point, Pa. Merck is suing the federal government Tuesday, June 6, 2023, over a plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices, calling the program a sham equivalent to extortion. The drugmaker is seeking to halt the program, which was laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act and is expected to save taxpayers billions of dollars in the coming years. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Merck sues federal government, calling plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices extortion

Merck is suing the federal government over a plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices, calling the program a sham equivalent to extortion.

Former New Hampshire doctor pleads guilty in $1.9 million Medicare fraud scheme

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former New Hampshire doctor has pleaded guilty to authorizing orders for medically unnecessary knee, wrist and back braces that were used by companies to submit more than $1.9 million in false Medicare claims.

FILE - This June 21, 2013, file photo, shows the seal affixed to the front of the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington. The federal government wrote duplicate checks to doctors who provided care for veterans, costing taxpayers $128 million in extra payments over the last five years, according to a new watchdog report out this week. In nearly 300,000 cases, private doctors were paid twice – once by the Veterans Health Administration and another time by Medicare – for the same care provided to veterans from 2017 to 2021, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found in its report. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

Feds wrote $128M in duplicate checks to docs, report finds

The federal government wrote duplicate checks to doctors who provided care for veterans, costing taxpayers as much as $128 million in extra payments, according to a new watchdog report out this week.

FILE - A Social Security card is displayed on Oct. 12, 2021, in Tigard, Ore. Most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and a majority support raising taxes on the nation's highest earners to keep Medicare running as is. The new findings, revealed in a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, come as both safety net programs are poised to run out of enough cash to pay out full benefits within the next decade. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC poll

Americans are deeply opposed to cutting into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and most support raising taxes on the nation’s highest earners to keep Medicare running as is.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs, Feb. 9, 2023, at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. Social Security and Medicare, the financial safety nets millions of older Americans rely on and millions of young people are counting on, will run short on funds to pay full benefits within the next decade, a new annual report released Friday warns. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Medicare, Social Security could fall short over next decade

An annual report on Social Security and Medicare says the financial safety nets millions of older Americans rely on and millions more young people are counting on will run short on funds to pay full benefits within the next decade.

President Joe Biden speaks about health care and prescription drug costs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden says he’s focused ‘intensely’ on lowering drug costs

President Joe Biden says his administration is focused “intensely” on lowering health care costs. He is also taking aim at “MAGA” Republicans who he says are intent on dialing back Medicare coverage for millions of Americans.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the 2023 International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Joe Biden plans new taxes on the rich to help save Medicare

President Joe Biden has started to unveil parts of his budget proposal being released later this week.

FILE - In this June 8, 2015, file photo specialist Anthony Rinaldi works adjacent to the post that handles Humana, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The health insurer Humana will stop providing employer-sponsored coverage as it stays focused on bigger parts of its business, like Medicare Advantage. The insurer said Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 it will leave the employer-sponsored business over the next 18 to 24 months. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Insurer Humana lays out employer-sponsored coverage exit

The health insurer Humana will stop providing employer-sponsored commercial coverage as it focuses on bigger parts of its business, like Medicare Advantage.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs, Feb. 9, 2023, at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. It seems like no one wants to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits, including Biden, who is already telling voters that his upcoming federal budget proposal will “defend and strengthen” the programs. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Social Security and Medicare: Troubling math, tough politics

It seems no one wants to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits. Not President Joe Biden, who’s telling voters his upcoming federal budget proposal will “defend and strengthen” the programs.

FILE - Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a news conference at the HHS Humphrey Building, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. The Biden administration estimated Jan. 30, 2023, that it could collect as much as $4.7 billion from insurance companies with newer and tougher penalties for submitting improper charges on the taxpayers’ tab for Medicare Advantage care. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Feds expect to collect $4.7B in insurance fraud penalties

The Biden administration is estimating that it could collect as much as $4.7 billion from insurance companies with newer and tougher penalties for submitting improper charges on the taxpayers’ tab for Medicare Advantage care.

Doctor gets nearly 17 years in prison for vast opioid scheme

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit-area doctor was sentenced Monday to nearly 17 years in prison and ordered to pay $30 million for leading a scheme to bill Medicare and private insurers for unnecessary painkiller injections and write prescriptions for millions of opioids.

Mississippi company to pay $1.87M to settle false claims

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — An orthopedic clinic in north Mississippi and its owner have agreed to pay more than $1.8 million to resolve allegations that the health care provider knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Stacks of the Congressional Record are distributed as lawmakers debate a massive $1.7 trillion spending bill that finances federal agencies and provides aid to Ukraine, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Spending bill secures funds for Native American health care

Access to health care for Native Americans across the U.S. will be bolstered with funding included in a government spending bill approved by Congress. The U.S.

FILE - Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the administrator for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, poses for a photograph in her office, Feb. 9, 2022, in Washington. The Biden administration on Dec. 14 proposed a ban on misleading ads for Medicare Advantage plans that have targeted older Americans and, in some cases, convinced them to sign up for plans that don't cover their doctors or prescriptions. The rule would ban ads that market Medicare Advantage plans with confusing words, imagery or logos. The rule also would ban ads that don't specifically mention a health insurance plan by name. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Biden administration proposes crackdown on scam Medicare ads

The Biden administration has proposed a ban on misleading ads for Medicare Advantage plans that have targeted older Americans and, in some cases, convinced them to sign up for plans that don’t cover their doctors or prescriptions.

Missouri man admits 26-year Social Security fraud

ST. LOUIS (AP) — An eastern Missouri man has admitted that he stole almost $200,000 by collecting his mother’s Social Security benefits for 26 years after her death.

The Supreme Court is seen on Election Day in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Supreme Court skeptical of rejecting civil rights precedent

The Supreme Court seems likely to reject a call to overturn decades of precedent and limit the ability of individuals to use federal civil rights law to sue.

FILE - Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Administrator for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, poses for a photograph in her office, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Washington. With Medicare's open enrollment underway, health experts are warning older adults about an uptick in misleading marketing tactics that might lead some to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans that don't cover their doctors or prescriptions and drive up their out-of-pocket costs. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Medicare enrollees warned about deceptive marketing schemes

With Medicare’s open enrollment underway, health experts are warning older adults about an uptick in misleading marketing tactics that might lead some to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans that don’t cover their doctors or prescriptions and drive up their out-of-pocket costs.

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2018, file photo, early ballots wait in bins to be sorted in the Denver Elections Division headquarters in Denver. On Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming Colorado’s practice of sending mail-in ballots to every registered voter is unconstitutional. and voters should only vote in person on Election Day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week

Social media users shared a range of false claims this week. Here are the facts: A graphic purporting to show House Republicans’ policy plan is fabricated and contains inaccurate information

Data breach victims sue Rhode Island transit agency, insurer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Two people whose personal information was compromised in a data breach at Rhode Island’s public bus service that affected about 22,000 people sued the agency and a health insurer on Tuesday seeking monetary damages and answers.

President Joe Biden leaves St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Del., after attending Mass, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Biden to visit Democratic headquarters as Election Day nears

President Joe Biden will visit Democratic National Committee headquarters as he looks to pep up staff and volunteers with just over two weeks to go before Election Day.

FILE - A syringe is placed into a vial of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination at a COVID-19 clinic in Augusta, Maine, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. On Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, Pfizer said it will charge $110 to $130 for a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine once the U.S. government stops buying the shots, but the drugmaker says it expects many people will continue receiving doses for free. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine will cost $110-$130 per dose

Pfizer will charge $110 to $130 for a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine once the U.S. government stops buying the shots.