The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period will begin October 15 and run through December 7. This is an opportunity for beneficiaries to review their current coverage, compare plans for 2027, and assess changes to benefits, provider networks, and out-of-pocket costs. During this period, beneficiaries can: Join, leave, or switch Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans, with or without drug coverage. Join, leave, or switch Medicare drug plans if they have Original Medicare. Switch from O

September and October are generally the best months for older adults to get a flu vaccine. Adults age 65 and older have several flu vaccine options, including high-dose, adjuvanted, recombinant, and mRNA vaccines. For this age group, the CDC recommends preferential use of an enhanced vaccine—such as Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok, or Fluad—when one is available. Please recommend a flu vaccine to your patients and help protect them from severe illnesses. Remember, no one is safe u

Medicare scams remain a concern for the healthcare system and society. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) highlights five warning signs that can help you recognize potential scams. Recognizing these signs can help you educate beneficiaries about how to identify potential scams and protect their personal information. These signs include: Offers of “free” items or services in exchange for beneficiaries' Medicare information. Pressure to switch Medicare plans or pay a fee to e

The owner of Expansion Media and Hybrid Management Group, Steven Richardson, has agreed to plead guilty to his role in a $110 million Medicare fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, including back and knee braces. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Medicare beneficiaries were targeted through telemarketing, and Richardson obtained signed orders from doctors and nurses who had not examined the patients and provided those orders to tel

As pharmacies begin processing GLP-1 prescriptions for beneficiaries through the Bridge Program, practical questions may arise about participation, billing, and reimbursement. For example: Where do pharmacies submit claims? How can pharmacies express interest in participating? What dispensing fee is available to pharmacies? For answers to these and other pharmacy-specific questions, see the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program pharmacy frequently asked questions (FAQs).

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program is still ongoing. Launched July 1, 2026, the temporary program provides eligible Medicare beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 medications for weight management for $50 per month, including Foundayo®, Wegovy® (injection and tablets), and Zepbound® (KwikPen®). The program is scheduled to continue through December 31, 2027. Medicare has established eligibility criteria. To be eligible, beneficiaries must be enrolled in a Medicare prescription

The summer edition of our newsletter is now available! Check it out to learn more about Medicare-covered preventive services for beneficiaries, medical equipment fraud in practice, our latest blog updates, continuing education resources, and more!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mFlusiva, an mRNA influenza vaccine developed by Moderna, on August 5. This first mRNA-based influenza vaccine is approved for use in individuals aged 50 years and older for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza A and B viruses. The approval was supported by results from randomized clinical trials. In individuals aged 50 to 64 years old, mFlusiva demonstrated higher efficacy compared with a standard-dose i

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) in the United States. This yearly observance highlights the importance of vaccinations for everyone, including older adults. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacies have played an increasingly critical role in providing immunization services. We hope to continue supporting your efforts by highlighting available CDC resources, such as the Adult Immunization Schedule, tools like the PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Mobile App to help

Medicare advertisement scams targeting older beneficiaries have surged on Facebook, with more than 200 million views recorded in 2025. Read the AOL report to learn about the different schemes these ads employ, such as fake Part D refund calls, AI voice-cloning scams, and fake Medicare card verification calls, and help educate your patients on how to recognize and avoid these scams.