The Pulmonary Press

Jean Landon

Marketing Coordinator

www.petersenmedical.com

Medicare Update for 2011

Part B: (Medical Insurance) Premium

Most beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 or $110.50 premium amount in 2011.  Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium in 2011.

For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2011, which is a 4.4% increase over the 2010 premium.  The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2011 due to possible increases in Part B costs.  If your income is above $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), then your Medicare Part B premium may be higher than $115.40 per month.  

Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2010, Part B: (covers Medicare eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment):  $162.00 per year. (Note: You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services after you meet the $162.00 deductible.)

Additional information about the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates for 2011 is available in the November 4, 2010 Fact Sheet titled, "Medicare Premiums, Deductibles for 2011" on the www.cms.gov website.

Vast Majority of Hospital Patients Are at High Risk for Sleep Apnea

An eight-question obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening questionnaire could assist caregivers in identifying the 81% of hospital patients who are at high risk for OSA, according to Loyola University Health 

System research.

The 5-minute screening survey, known as STOP-BANG, was administered by Sunita Kumar, MD, and colleagues during a single day at Loyola University Hospital. 

Of the 195 patients surveyed, 157 (80.5%) were at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea; of those, only 31 had been evaluated in an overnight sleep lab and diagnosed with OSA—and just 18 were being treated.

"Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea may be associated with increased risk of complications in hospitalized patients," the authors reported. "Screening and evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea in high-risk patients should be considered as it may help reduce the burden of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea."

Nov 4, 2010 RT Magazine

Strange But True

A Growing Problem: A Massachusetts man who was suffering from a chronic cough got a big surprise when physicians looked into his lungs: A pea got stuck there and started growing. After removal of the inch-and-a-half long plant, the patient was breathing much better. Would he ever eat peas again? Yep – they were on the plate served to him post surgery, and he just laughed and ate them. 

AARC Times, November 2010

Tips on Making a Call to Customer Service 

We all occasionally need to clarify a bill or reach out to an agency by phone. It helps to prepare beforehand and get organized:

Have your account info on hand to save time, and a pen and paper in case you need to write notes. It’s also a good idea to get the operator’s name and number in case you get disconnected. 

Take advantage of self-service options: You can sometimes obtain answers via a company’s website or an interactive voice response.

Make sure you have a good speakerphone: Chances are you might be on hold for a while, so having a good speakerphone will allow you to multitask and get other things done. 

Set aside some time for the problem: If you’ve got a complicated issue to resolve, don’t make the phone call with only 10 minutes to spare before you have to go. You can speed up the process by stating your points succinctly. Writing your thoughts down beforehand may help. And try calling on a Wednesday. On Monday and Tuesday, people are still going through their weekend to-do lists. By Wednesday it quiets down on the call center floor, especially just before lunchtime. Afternoons are always busier as people start to get off work.

Reach an operator: The website GetHuman.com has tips (like what number to press, etc.) on how to get an operator on the line from thousands of volunteers who’ve had to deal with the customer service departments of various companies.

Be civil: Sometimes talking to a customer service representative can be frustrating, but yelling and being belligerent probably won’t help solve your problem. So be reasonable and remember there’s a human on the other end of the line, too. Don’t turn the phone call into an emotional argument. Badmouthing the company to your rep may not help, but it never hurts to be friendly (i.e. ask the rep how they are doing) and may even help you get further.