Susan Jaffe

Medicare Advantage Plans Cleared To Go Beyond Medical Coverage — Even Groceries

Under new federal rules unveiled this week, these privately run alternatives to traditional Medicare might provide air conditioners, rides to medical appointments and home-delivered meals. In California, which has a high proportion of Medicare beneficiaries in private plans, a San Francisco-based nonprofit already offers similar services to disabled seniors and adults.

California Hospitals Get A Second Law On Notifying Observation Care Patients

A new federal law requires that hospitals give Medicare patients notice after placing them under observation, along with the reason why they were not officially admitted. In California, it comes on top of a state law that requires quicker notice for all observation patients but does not oblige hospitals to explain their decision not to admit.