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Medicare bilked in dubious lab billings
Medicare remains a rich target for unscrupulous medical providers, according to evidence in a report released this week by the inspector general of the Department of Health & Human Services. The report focused on lab billing under Medicare Part B and found…
Social Security: 6 States That Heavily Tax Benefits
As a retiree, there are few things as frustrating as the fact that your Social Security benefits are potentially subject to federal income taxes. Weren’t previously paid taxes what financed them in the first place? To make matters worse, a handful…
New parking meters to cut down on disability placard fraud
BALTIMORE —The first phase of Project Space, an initiative that means there’s no more free parking for vehicles displaying disabled placards, kicked off in Baltimore’s central business district on Thursday. Baltimore’s mayor is set to announce Wednesday a new initiative aimed…
Budget deficit will drop to $583 billion
The White House said Friday that the federal government’s budget deficit will drop to $583 billion this year, the lowest level of President Barack Obama’s tenure. Last year’s deficit was $680 billion. The latest update from the White House budge…
The wrong folks get billions in tax dollars
A government watchdog agency said an estimated $106 billion in payments were made in error last year: meaning they were the wrong amount, went to the wrong person or lacked sufficient documentation. These payments include tax refunds, unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits, and…
Estimating Retirement Medical Expenses
The ability to handle lifetime medical expenses is the key to a financially sustainable retirement, according to new studies such as one by the Employee Benefits Research Institute. Yet, medical expenses also are the wild card in retirement finance, because…
Social Security Tips for Same-Sex Couples
The Social Security Administration now recognizes and is able to pay out benefits to members of same-sex married couples. This policy change is a result of the June 2013 Supreme Court decision that section three of the Defense of Marriage…
Thousands with disabilities denied right to vote in California, group says
LOS ANGELES — At a time when election officials are struggling to convince more Americans to vote, advocates for the disabled say thousands of people with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and other intellectual or developmental disabilities have been systematically…
Going Back to Work? Time for a New Budget
There are plenty of reasons to get back to work after time off – financial stability, a feeling of empowerment, utilization of your skills, etc. While finding the motivator may be easy, returning to full or even part-time employment after an…
Medicare providers complain of duplicative audits
Health care companies say they’re losing millions of dollars that are tied up in appeals because of increasing numbers of Medicare audits. But the rise in the often duplicative audits has failed to reduce Medicare fraud, according to a report…