Medicare Good News…and not… out of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018

As part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,  signed into law earlier in February, Medicare’s therapy caps were repealed!  As explained by Justice in Aging in a recent fact sheet, ““[t]he law permanently repeals the payment cap on outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies effective January 1, 2018, and makes changes to the medical necessity review process for these services.” As well, the law closes the donut hole one year earlier, “at which time beneficiaries will be required to contribute 25% to the cost of prescription drugs. This provision does not affect coverage for beneficiaries who receive the Part D low-income subsidy known as “Extra Help,” since they already don’t experience the donut hole.”

Then there is the change to Home Health Care, starting in 2020, where “[t]he home health payment episode will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days and therapy thresholds will be eliminated. Beginning in 2019, Medicare will be allowed to base eligibility determinations for home health services on a review of the patient’s medical record including a home health agency’s record beginning in 2019.”  As well, the Part B and D premiums for higher income beneficiaries will go up starting in 2019.

To read the entire fact sheet, click here.