Cheryl Clark

Leaked HHS budget would gut SHIP/HICAP Medicare counseling programs, often the only source of unbiased info and advice about Medicare Advantage, Part D, TM, Medigap.Officials said this would be devastating, leaving seniors to sort agents' truth from hype. tinyurl.com/49trxy6h

Great story by @susanjaffe of KHN, with KFF analysis that tempers some CMS claims that Part D premiums are dropping and plan choice will stay the same in 2025. My Cigna premium will increase, but not by much. medpagetoday.com/publichealthpo…

@susanjaffe Our CVS and apparently most other pharmacies in San Diego have them with appointments available today.

Please check websites for accuracy before putting them in your stories.

Oh Oh Tennessee. Despite law — and severe MD shortages  — foreign-school docs can't apply. Med board says first concern is patient safety. @medpagetoday medpagetoday.com/special-report…

@Kcdageforde Hi Katie -- I talked with you years ago about Obama-era pay bump. Now hoping you can help on story about foreign medical grads and Tenn legislation that ? blocks licensure. c.clark@medpagetoday.com

"I wanted to make sure if they were ever in a situation where they needed to help themselves or help somebody else, they'd have some skills to do it." --@SutterHealth nurse Kate Carleton on teaching bleeding control to kids: medpagetoday.com/special-report…

Shld docs treat family, friends? Write Rx? Surgery? Ethics experts, AMA say no except for minor issues or emergencies. A MO plastic surgeon thinks he shouldn't be labeled unethical for operating on his wife. But his hospital blocked him. @medpagetoday tinyurl.com/4h4kenmr

Medicare, Social Security trust funds need input from public trustees rather than just the 4 Cabinet members in place. But for 9 years, nada. Cuz the 2 public appointees weren't confirmed. What are we missing? It's politics. I explain: tinyurl.com/3yj299tj @medpagetoday

I'm also moderating a session on #MedicareAdvantage that I'm really excited about, featuring @tricia_neuman, @CherClarHealth, and @amal_trivedi. Come for getting really riled up about health policy, stay for a v cute photo of Cheryl's cat Cannolis that u CAN.NOT. miss #HJ24

@LizSzabo @AHCJ Strongly support.

What do we think about sneakers with dresses? Going to @AHCJ next month in fancy schmancy New York, but my plantar fasciitis is still bothering me.

A patient trapped in a hospital bed for more than 3 years because no suitable discharge setting. Hospitals are becoming like the Hotel California. Like you can never leave. Many more like him. System sucks. medpagetoday.com/special-report…

@jrovner Congrats Mary Agnes!

Best news of the week!

@charlesornstein @marshallallen Marshall was so kind to me when I first met him at AHCJ. We spoke frequently even after he left for government job. What in the world?

I am absolutely devastated and shocked to hear that my former colleague and friend ⁦@marshallallen⁩ died. There are not enough words to describe what a wonderful, wonderful person Marshall was. This is beyond crushing. Please help his family. gofundme.com/f/support-for-…

Ex Vanderbilt nurse goes live explaining circumstances and systemic practices leading to her giving fatal vecuronium to patient in 2017, hopes advice can make care safer. medpagetoday.com/special-report…

MedPAC says the quiet part outloud.Medicare Advantage quality ratings are seriously flawed, and no way shows the better plans. They score at the contract level, which doesn't say how good the plan's doctors and hospitals in your town are. @medpagetoday medpagetoday.com/publichealthpo…

Don Berwick throws down on Medicare Advantage plans for lots of reasons. He would never be in one. @medpagetoday medpagetoday.com/special-report…

Bernie, senators pummel bigpharma CEOs for charging more for drugs here than other countries. They make millions in salary, and have billions for stock buyback, dividends, and spend ginormous sums on lobbyists to get their way, he says. tinyurl.com/3j3mrv95 @medpagetoday

Scoop. Medical Board of California officially reprimands Simone Gold for her role in Jan. 6 insurrection, effective feb. 2. But judge hearing the case refused state's desire for 5-year-probation. She does have to take ethics classes, though. tinyurl.com/yn6pntxb @medpagetoday

Medicare Advantage plan companies now enroll eligible beneficiaries at such rapid rates, and charging Medicare a lot more than fee for service, I asked the MedPAC chair the obvious question. Will everyone eventually have no choice but MA? @MedPageToday tinyurl.com/mryw4t2u