Medicare Handbook 2009

The 2009 Medicare Handbook is the indispensable resource you need to clearly understand - and be able to advise on - Medicare's confusing rules and regulations. It has been prepared by an outstanding team of experts from the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., a private, non-profit organization devoted to helping elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary healthcare. These experienced attorneys and healthcare professionals address - from the beneficiary's perspective - issues you need to master to provide effective planning advice or advocacy services, including:

• Medicare eligibility rules and enrollment requirements
• Medicare covered services, deductibles, and co-payments
• Co-insurance, premiums, penalties
• Coverage criteria for each of the programs
• Problem areas of concern for the advocate
• Grievance and appeals procedures

For each topic, you'll find an extensive selection of case citations, checklists, worksheets, and other practice tools designed to assist in obtaining coverage for clients, while minimizing research and drafting time.

The 2009 Edition has been updated to include coverage of:

• Understanding new hospital notices
• Understanding current physical, speech, and occupational therapy payment caps
• Increasing payments to, and reliance upon managed care plans (Medicare Advantage)
• Protections for individuals with low incomes, including the extension of the Qualified Individual (QI) program
• Elimination of Medicare Part D late enrollment penalties paid by subsidy eligible individuals; judicial review of decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security under the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy program; and Medicare enrollment assistance
• Extension of exceptions process for therapy caps