Home Health & Hospice Week

Home health agencies and hospices have managed to avoid a copayment thus far, but most patients are still affect by deductibles and premiums for the overall Medicare program. Medicare’s Part A deductible will increase by $28 next year, from the current amount of $1,260 to $1,288, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. After two years of Part B deductibles that stood at $147, CMS has decided to have Medicare beneficiaries pay a bit more for their care. The Part B annual deductible for 2016 will be $166.

“Our goal is to keep Medicare Part B premiums affordable,” says CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt in a statement. “Affordability for Medicare enrollees is a key goal of our work building a health care system that delivers better care and spends health care dollars more wisely.”