What does this mean? Imagine you have a severe stroke. Before Jimmo, most people thought Medicare would pay for physical therapy only as long as that PT was helping you get better. For instance, Medicare would pay if therapy helped increase the number of steps you could walk without assistance.…
[Pacemakers] prolong lives, but “all those people will face decisions down the road,” Dr. Mueller said. “’Do I keep it going? Do I turn it off?’” Physicians have similar questions, including what kinds of patients confront these choices and who usually winds up making these decisions. Do you or a…
To avoid a crisis in your family, be sure your parent has the following documents. Some of the most important end-of-life planning should include making sure your loved ones have the legal right to take care of you later in life. Accordingly, there are some essential legal documents you really…
The fear that the government could one day seize their homes is deterring some people from signing up for Medicaid. Medicaid comes with a lot of give and take. It is a safety net for those who need it, but it does come with its drawbacks. One drawback many are…
If you or a family member land in the hospital as an observation patient and think you should be admitted, it’s better to act sooner than later. When it comes to whether or not care is covered by Medicare, the distinction between being "admitted" or just "under observation" is critical.…
We say it over and over again. Check your beneficiary forms! Don't let your retirement funds go down the drain. Anything involving the court system is rarely quick and painless (probate anyone?). Fortunately, IRAs can easily be transferred to your loved ones outside of probate simply by completing a beneficiary…
My mother gave me money in 2009. Now (2014) she is in a nursing home and needs to get Medicaid. Does that money need to go back in her account because of Medicaid's five-year lookback? Medicaid is wound tight with very well-intentioned rules to stop people from taking advantage of…
If a beneficiary disagrees with a decision, there are reconsideration and appeals procedures within the Medicare program. Medicare approvals can be tough at times, and some may find their claims come up with the big "D" – denial. So what happens when Medicare denies a beneficiary’s claim for care? While…
"It seems like there seems to continue to be confusion about what it means to die using neurologic criteria," said Cynda Hylton Rushton, professor of clinical ethics at Johns Hopkins University. Two recent medical cases are making headlines over the often blurry lines between life, death, medical ethics and the…
“Hopefully, older adults who previously were unable to afford to see a therapist will now be more likely to do so,” said Andrea Callow, a policy lawyer with the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Now that 2014 is officially here, it's time to start reviewing the Obamacare provisions that went into…