BCBS.com: Medicare

Health bill would cost $829B, help cover 94 pct

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Federal subsidies would be provided to millions of individuals and families to help defray the cost of coverage that would otherwise be out of their reach.

A Race in Cardiology

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

...cost of heart valve replacement surgery is about $50,000, a sum that includes surgical fees, hospital costs and the price of a replacement valve, which sells for about $5,000. By contrast, the new valves currently sell for up to $30,000. Both Edwards and Medtronic, though, say that the higher prices for the valves would be offset by lower costs from anticipated shorter hospital stays.Edwards, which recently enrolled the last of about 1,000 patients in a major trial of its valve that is...

Many diabetic foot amputations are preventable

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Treating a slow-to-heal diabetic foot ulcer can cost up to $8,000. Medicare will help pay for certain therapeutic shoes although paperwork limits the diabetics who try them, says Lavery.

Lawmakers Cut Health Bills' Price Tag

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The draft also would scale back Medicare payments to physicians."Quantifiably, we're on the edge," Sen.

Nearly 10 percent of health spending for obesity

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

For example, diabetes costs the nation $190 billion a year to treat, and excess weight is the single biggest risk factor for developing diabetes.