The U Department of Health and Huma...

The U Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance amounts to be paid by means of Medicare beneficiaries in 2005. The monthly premium will increase from $6660 to $7820 which is 173 percent higher than in 2004 HH reports that the increase is to screen general growth in health care require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergones higher payments to physicians, building retains and coordinated Medicare Advantage plans. The primary contributing factor, accounting for about 80 percent of the higher outlay is higher physician payments. In 2005 payment rates for physicians will increase by the agency of 1.5 percent, preventing a 45 percent reduction that could have restricted access to higher quality services. The strange premium will "reflect an enhanced Medicare that is providing seniors and persons with disabilities with strengthened access to physician services and of recent origin preventive benefits," said Mark McClellan, MD PhD administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. More information is available online at http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040903a.html.

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