The Alpha-1 Channel

The outlook for Medicare has improved substantially because of program changes made in the federal healthcare reform act (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), says the annual report of the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds.

Despite the economic recession, the Medicare Trust Fund is now expected to remain solvent until 2029, 12 years longer than was projected last year.

Much of the projected improvement in Medicare finances is due to a provision of the ACA that reduces payment updates for most Medicare goods and services other than physicians’ services and drugs.

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