UPDATED 2008 EDITION AVAILABLE FROM ASPEN PUBLISHERS

Medicare Handbook
by Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr., Judith A. Stein

To order, call 1-800-638-8437
or click here to be linked with Aspen Publishers

The 2008 Medicare Handbook is the indispensable resource you need to clearly understand - and be able to advise on - Medicare's confusing rules and regulations. It has been prepared by an outstanding team of experts from the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., a private, non-profit organization devoted to helping elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary healthcare. These experienced attorneys and healthcare professionals address - from the beneficiary's perspective - issues you need to master to provide effective planning advice or advocacy services, including:

• Medicare eligibility rules and enrollment requirements

• Medicare covered services, deductibles, and co-payments

• Co-insurance, premiums, penalties

• Coverage criteria for each of the programs

• Problem areas of concern for the advocate

• Grievance and appeals procedures

For each topic, you'll find an extensive selection of case citations, checklists, worksheets, and other practice tools designed to assist in obtaining coverage for clients, while minimizing research and drafting time.

The 2008 Edition has been updated to include coverage of:

• Increased payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and MA plan proliferation, including greater market penetration of Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

• New rules for hospital discharge notices and expedited appeals

• Implementing the 2007 income-based Part B deductible increase

• Practical problems arising from the transfer of the Medicare administrative law judge (ALJ) function from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to the Department of Health and Human Services

• Ongoing problems with the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Medicare Coverage and Appeals

2. Hospital Coverage

3. Skilled Nursing Facility Coverage

4. Home Health Coverage

5. Hospice Coverage

6. Medicare Part B: Supplemental Medical Insurance

7. Medicare Advantage: Coordinated Care Plans, Private Fee-For-Service, and Other Delivery of Services Options

8. Medigap Services

9. Medicare's Relationship with Private Insurance

10. Dual Eligibility: Issues for Medicare Beneficiaries Also Eligible for Medicaid

11. Prescription Drug Coverage

To order a copy of the Center's comprehensive Medicare Handbook call 1-800-638-8437 or click here to be linked with Aspen Publishers