Home Health & Hospice Week

Don’t be surprised if you hear complaints from your patients about a Medicare Part B premium hike. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is increasing the Part B standard monthly premium from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022.

Why? Rising Part B drug prices coupled with COVID-19 legislation and spending resulted in the need to make the 2022 increase, according to a CMS release. Plus, CMS is still determining whether it will cover the cost of the Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — and that also factors into bolstering “additional contingency reserves,” the agency says.

There is some good news to pass on to your patients too, though: “Most people with Medicare will see a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their 2022 Social Security benefits — the largest COLA in 30 years. This significant COLA increase will more than cover the increase in the Medicare Part B monthly premium,” CMS maintains.

The Part B premium update is at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-2022-medicare-part-b-premiums