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Practice Management Alert

Reader Question:

Take Note of Medicare's 2009 Cost to Patients

Published on Mon Oct 20, 2008

Question: I heard CMS released the monthly payment amount for next year, but I can't find any information on it. Can you tell me what the new costs will be?
Washington Subscriber Answer: You can expect to see no change in the Medicare Part B monthly patient cost for 2009. CMS announced that the 2009 monthly premium will remain the same as the 2008 amount -- $96.40. This is the first year since 2000 that there will be no increase in the standard premium over the prior year, says CMS. What it is: The $96.40 is the monthly premium beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Part B pay. This amount covers a portion of the cost of physicians- services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other healthcare items. Read more: To learn more about the premium breakdown by income and other facts about next year's Medicare costs, go online to the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp, and click on September 19, 2008.
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