Medicare

Three Medicare beneficiaries with a serious eye disease are claiming the Bush administration is violating the law by not allowing them to appeal its decision to deny coverage for a drug that could prevent them from going blind.

Medicare officials have issued guidelines allowing homebound beneficiaries to leave their homes for special occasions--such as family reunions, graduations or funerals--without losing their home health care benefits. More . . .

The Bush administration has decided to comply with federal law and authorize Medicare coverage for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. More . . .

Medigap insurance is expensive but still leaves large coverage holes for many beneficiaries, according to a new study by the General Accounting Office. The researchers also found that it pays to shop around for coverage.

On Thursday, June 14, the Bush administration announced that it would rename the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).