Comments on: Medicare PFFS: A Good Program Despite Marketing Abuses http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/05/17/medicare-pffs-a-good-program-despite-marketing-abuses/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:25:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/05/17/medicare-pffs-a-good-program-despite-marketing-abuses/#comment-1413 Catron Sun, 20 May 2007 20:39:51 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/05/17/medicare-pffs-a-good-program-despite-marketing-abuses/#comment-1413 That cost estimate has been disputed by CMS. <a href="http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/factsonmedicareadvantage.cfm" rel="nofollow">Here’s</a> what the Heritage Foundation reports in that regard: <em>Using data for 2007, CMS estimates that if one is only measuring the equivalent cost of delivering Part A and B services alone, MA plans are paid 2.8 percent more than the cost of traditional Medicare. </em> And this small difference will probably disappear by 2011. So, cost really isn’t the issue it has been made out to be. That cost estimate has been disputed by CMS. Here’s what the Heritage Foundation reports in that regard:

Using data for 2007, CMS estimates that if one is only measuring the equivalent cost of delivering Part A and B services alone, MA plans are paid 2.8 percent more than the cost of traditional Medicare.

And this small difference will probably disappear by 2011. So, cost really isn’t the issue it has been made out to be.

]]> By: William G. Schiffbauer http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/05/17/medicare-pffs-a-good-program-despite-marketing-abuses/#comment-1412 William G. Schiffbauer Sun, 20 May 2007 17:35:51 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/05/17/medicare-pffs-a-good-program-despite-marketing-abuses/#comment-1412 But at 119%--on average--over Original Medicare FFS payments? Are you serious? But at 119%–on average–over Original Medicare FFS payments? Are you serious?

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