It is the time of year when people on Medicare can make changes to their health plans. For more than more than 700,000 Oklahomans, it means doing some research to see if their current Medicare coverage still fits their needs.

Medicare does not cover all health care expenses, so most patients have a supplemental plan to help cover the difference. It is important to make sure your doctor is in your plan's network and the medications you take are still covered, as they can change year to year.

Caitlin Donovan, senior director of outreach and communications for the Patient Advocate Foundation, said reviewing your coverage now means you will not get caught by surprise come January, when any changes go into effect.

"It's not something we want to spend a lot of time doing, because it's not very fun," Donovan acknowledged. "But often people will spend more time picking out their new iPhone or their cellphone plan than their health care plan, and you lose a lot of money that way."

Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7. Websites like JustPlainClear.com and MedicareMadeClear.com have more information about Medicare enrollment.

Some people choose a basic Medicare supplement, while others go for a Medicare Advantage plan. More than a third of Oklahoma Medicare enrollees have Advantage plans.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, explained Advantage plans are more expensive but include more services.

"Things like dental, vision and hearing," Randall outlined. "Many Medicare beneficiaries might be surprised to know that original Medicare doesn't cover most of those things, but many Medicare Advantage plans do."

Original Medicare also does not cover prescription drugs, so what is known as a Part D plan is needed for medications. Starting in 2025, plans will include a $2,000 cap on what you pay out-of-pocket for covered prescription drugs.

Donovan noted there are many factors to consider, especially when you are looking to save as much money as possible.

"Making sure that you are in the position where you cannot only get the coverage you need but that you can afford that coverage," Donovan emphasized. "That means looking not just at your premium but also whatever your deductible might be, which is the amount you have to spend for that coverage to kick in. If you can't afford your deductible, you can't afford your plan."

For other health insurance plans, people with employer-sponsored coverage typically select a plan between September and December. Open enrollment for plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 in most states.

A bill in the Tennessee General Assembly is reigniting debate over how rural hospitals can staff anesthesia providers. House Bill 979 would address the shortage of anesthesiologists in rural Tennessee by allowing hospitals in counties with fewer than 105,000 residents to directly employ physician anesthesiologists.

Hospitals now have to use third-party anesthesiology services.

Dr. Louis Chemin III, anesthesiologist and physician with Tennessee Anesthesiology Consultants Exchange, supports physician supervision in what's known as the "Anesthesia Care Team" model. He said anyone hired as an anesthesiologist would be required to follow strict medical guidelines.

"Currently under state law, a hospital cannot employ an anesthesiologist, a radiologist, a pathologist or an emergency medicine physician. If this bill were to pass, it would allow hospitals in these rural communities the option to hire an anesthesiologist," he contended.

Chemin said the bill would allow a hospital anesthesiologist to perform anesthesia in one operating room, or to supervise the process in up to four operating rooms.

On Wednesday, the bill passed the House with a vote of 72 to 5, with 11 members "present but not voting." It now heads to the state Senate.

When a physician anesthesiologist provides medical direction to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or Anesthesiologist Assistants, Chemin explained, they must comply with seven steps outlined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to qualify for reimbursement under Medicare.

"This law means that if a hospital employs an anesthesiologist, that they must allow the anesthesiologist to practice in a way that is safe and is in agreement with these seven steps," he continued.

Chemin added that these requirements would ensure the anesthesiologist's active involvement in the patient's care and safety.


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A new report found Missouri's public health agencies are not sharing information effectively and fixing the problem could lead to better health care for people in the state.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released its first assessment of the state's digital health system, highlighting ways to improve how health data is shared and used. The evaluation uncovered significant gaps in sharing critical information such as disease rates, hospital visits, birth outcomes and access to care.

Joshua Wymer, chief health information and strategy officer for the department, shared key insights from the report.

"Data is still often siloed," Wymer pointed out. "There was an opportunity with data to advance inoperability, there's an opportunity to always be better at privacy and security because we know that the threat of that is always evolving."

The report recommended establishing clear rules and strong leadership for better data management. More than 200 organizations took part in the assessment, through 25 meetings across nine regions.

A separate study found health care providers said patient access to electronic health records improved communication and treatment discussions. Wymer also shared what citizens expect from the systems as health data grows in importance.

"They expect their data to not only be available and readily accessible, but they expect it to be private and secure," Wymer reported. "And they expect an experience that moves closer and closer to them and their routine and their priority."

The assessment revealed Missouri's public health agencies have different digital capabilities but are ready to adopt new data systems.


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Wednesday is National Healthcare Decisions Day and advocates are calling attention to Florida's pressing need for advance care planning, particularly among vulnerable groups.

About one in five Floridians is over 65 and the state also struggles with one of America's highest uninsured rates, at 10.7%, significantly above the 8% national average.

Brandi Alexander, chief engagement officer for the national end-of-life advocacy group Compassion & Choices said Latino residents have nearly double the uninsured rate of white Floridians. She noted there are good reasons for anyone to plan for their future health care needs.

"Nearly half of the population are people of color in Florida," Alexander pointed out. "A 2021 study found that the preventable mortality rate for Black individuals was 1.5 times higher than it was for their white peers."

The annual awareness day encourages families to discuss and document their medical preferences before a crisis strikes. Florida's 52 licensed hospice organizations serve patients through hundreds of care teams statewide, according to state health data. Alexander emphasized clarifying care wishes can alleviate burdens on families and reduce preventable suffering.

Alexander added normalizing the conversations can empower patients and reduce disparities.

"The more we have tools and the more we normalize the conversation, we can start changing some of the negative stigma that comes with talking about death," Alexander stressed. "Because once you're talking about it and you know what options are available to you, you can then really advocate for yourself within the health care system - and that's how we really create change."

Free resources, including advance directive forms and multilingual guides, are available through the state health department and advocacy groups like Compassion & Choices.