Medicare

A Whitefish doctor was sentenced to six months of jail and another six months of house arrest for defrauding Medicare and other federal health programs.

Medicare open enrollment has begun, and Montana medical providers want seniors to understand the tradeoffs that come with Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurance companies.

The open enrollment period for Medicare starts Oct. 15. People can change both their medical and drug coverage until Dec. 7.

As Montana’s population ages, providers serving low-income seniors say more people aren’t getting the care they need as they wait to get on Medicaid. Montana lawmakers are considering creating a shortcut to that care.

Montanans on Medicare could see big savings on prescription drugs next year.

Organizations serving older Montanans are warning of a rise in scams targeting Medicare enrollees.

Health officials estimate the state will lose $25 million if the state hospital doesn’t receive federal certification within the next two years.

A hospital network in northwest Montana is among the many health care systems in the state that will follow a federal rule requiring staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Hospitals that don’t comply could lose federal funding.

St. Vincent Healthcare, RiverStone Health and Billings Clinic said in a joint statement that “Bottom line ... we are requiring our healthcare workers to become vaccinated against COVID-19."

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier Friday called the Biden Administration’s new COVID vaccine mandate for health care facilities “unfortunate,” arguing that it will exacerbate Montana’s current health care worker shortage.