In the News

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced nearly $21 million for long-term flood mitigation work in Washington and Oregon — part of $250 million the agency is distributing nationwide for more than 100 flood-mitigation projects. “These awards are distributed through FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance, which empowers states to take proactive action against the devastating… Read more »

U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) have introduced the Concurrent Care for Comfort Act, designed to ensure that hospice patients can receive dialysis treatment. The Concurrent Care for Comfort Act would clarify Medicare coverage policies for palliative dialysis and establish separate reimbursement for these services when provided by renal dialysis facilities and… Read more »

Traditional Medicare denials are harming patient care in the six states where the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mandated the use of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model this year, says Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. "Under your leadership, CMS recently added new layers of red tape that Medicare patients need to navigate to get the care that they… Read more »

A proposed bipartisan bill could reduce what you pay for Medicare, helping you avoid wasting your retirement savings. The Chronic Care Management Improvement Act would eliminate the Medicare coinsurance requirement for chronic care management (CCM) services, saving beneficiaries money every month. The bill might encourage more Medicare beneficiaries to get the care they need, and it… Read more »

Earlier this year, Joanne, a Medicare patient from Quilcene, Washington, went to her doctor for severe pain in her lower back, down her leg and on the top of her foot. An MRI showed that a herniated disc was pressing on her sciatic nerve. Joanne’s doctor prescribed an epidural steroid injection to help alleviate the pain. Before this year, getting that procedure done would have been quick… Read more »

A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress would eliminate a key cost‑sharing requirement tied to Medicare’s chronic care management services. If passed, lawmakers say this could expand access for seniors with multiple chronic conditions and alter how providers are paid for coordinating ongoing care. The legislation, the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act, has drawn support from… Read more »

Earlier this year, Joanne, a Medicare patient from Quilcene, Washington, went to her doctor for severe pain in her lower back, down her leg and on the top of her foot. An MRI showed that a herniated disc was pressing on her sciatic nerve. Joanne’s doctor prescribed an epidural steroid injection to help alleviate the pain. Before this year, getting that procedure done would have been quick… Read more »

Some Seattle-based businesses are looking to recoup the added costs of Trump-era tariffs, as Thursday marks one year since the president announced his sweeping Liberation Day tariffs and duties on many U.S. trade partners. Inside the King's Oriental Foods warehouse in Seattle's Chinatown-International District, owner Mew Pongpituk explained that there are more than 700 products shipped… Read more »

A group of House Democrats are seeking to use Congress’ appropriations process to block implementation of a federal government initiative that they say could be used to deny coverage for those enrolled in traditional Medicare. They are objecting to a Trump administration pilot program that is expanding the use of prior authorization in Medicare to ensure certain services and treatments… Read more »

A bipartisan group of lawmakers want Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fill panel vacancies that enable approval of research funding, according to a letter obtained by Bloomberg Government. Nearly all bodies of the National Institutes of Health have an advisory council, made up of experts who assess the scientific grant applications and approve them, and the lack of legally… Read more »