Beauty Health Service Medicare Plans Raise Questions

The Boston Globe on Wednesday examined private fee-for-service Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts. According to the Globe Beauty Health, while private fee-for-service plans expanded nationwide in 2003, they were not offered in New England until January Beauty Health.

The plans may offer more benefits Beauty Health than traditional Medicare and do not limit beneficiaries to certain physicians or require them to obtain a referral to see specialists as in private managed care plans Beauty Health.

However Beauty Health, the plans raise questions about the long-term direction of Medicare because they cost more than traditional coverage but are not held to higher quality and efficiency standards, the Globe reports. In addition, according to the Globe Beauty Health, CMS officials maintain that the growing popularity of the private fee-for-service plans has also been marred by aggressive and improper sales tactics.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care this year switched all of its Medicare coverage to private fee-for-service plans, and Tufts Health Plan and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts will begin promoting such plans in 2008 Beauty Health.