Dear Friends,

Have you ever found yourself waiting forever on the phone to talk to your Representative? Maybe you have a bad Mayor or Governor that does a bad job? Or, you just have a horror story that you would like to share with me?

Send me a short, factual account of what has happened to you, a close friend, or family member. Then, e-mail it to me at asher@asherheimermann.com. I will read every single one of them. After reading each one, I will make sure to reply to your e-mail so you know that I've read it.

Thank you, all of you, for your help and your continued support through the past weeks and months. I promise you that I will not give up for fighting for Honest Government, Student Rights, and a Better World!


Yours Truly,
Asher Heimermann
asher@asherheimermann.com

__________________

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A significant change in the Medicare law.

Read and relate to your own situation. (partial)

Original Medicare
Medicare + Choice
Medicare Private Contracting
Medical Savings Accounts


One of the Medicare changes enacted by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 is a provision that allows doctors to have "private contracts" with Medicare beneficiaries. This provision is easily misinterpreted.

Medicare "Private Contacts"
One provision of the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 allows doctors to have "private contracts" with Medicare beneficiaries. In this case, patients become responsible for the full cost of services normally covered by Medicare. The law did not change regarding services which are not covered by Medicare.

What does the Act do?
The Act simply adds a third way to pay for Medicare-covered services. These three ways are:

(1) Assignment: A doctor still can accept Medicare assignment. He or she then must submit a bill directly to Medicare and be paid at the Medicare payment rate. The beneficiary (and/or his or her Medigap policy) pays only the copayment and any deductible.

(2) Not Assigned: A doctor still can be a Medicare provider but not accept assignment. The doctor may bill the beneficiary for up to 15 percent above the approved rate for procedures covered by Medicare. The beneficiary (and/or his or her Medigap policy) is responsible for the copayment, the deductible and the doctor's additional bill.

(3) Private Contract: The new law now allows doctors to "opt out" of Medicare and have private contracts with beneficiaries for services that otherwise would be covered by Medicare. The beneficiary must pay the full cost for these services at a rate agreed between the beneficiary and the doctor. Medigap policies WILL NOT PAY for these services.

Well, thank you for sharing that. If anyone still wants to share any of their government horror stories, please do so. I ask that you e-mail them to me at asher@asherheimermann.com and not post them here as I don't have time always to come here.

__________________

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