Tommy Thompson on Medicare's Preventative Services

Author: Men's Health Network

According to a Los Angeles Times article published in June 2006, 90 percent of Medicare's spending goes toward treating complications of chronic disease. Through seniors' increased use of Medicare's preventative care services, Medicare believes that this number will decline, saving the health care system money and improving seniors' overall health care. In this podcast, former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson will walk beneficiaries and their caregivers through several of Medicare's preventative services and encourage them to take advantage of the currently underutilized services.

 

Episodes

The Benefits of Preventative Care in Medicare

Tommy Thompson reviews the benefits of practicing preventative care and provides beneficiaries with an overview of the preventative care services offered by Medicare.

Listen Now: Running time: 5:25 | Download MP3

"Welcome to Medicare" Physical

Tommy Thompson discusses Medicare's physical examination for new seniors that provides baseline medical information about patients and assesses the need for follow up or preventative care.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:22 | Download MP3

Smoking Cessation Services

Tommy Thompson addresses Medicare's smoking cessation counseling for beneficiaries who have smoking-related illnesses, or who are taking medications that are affected by tobacco use.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:49 | Download MP3

Diabetes Screenings

Tommy Thompson explains the importance of early detection and treatment through diabetes screenings for beneficiaries who have a family history of diabetes or are pre-diabetic.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:54 | Download MP3

Cardiovascular Screenings

Tommy Thompson talks about Medicare's cardiovascular screening tests which are designed to help identify those with increased risk of heart disease.

Listen Now: Running time: 5:25 | Download MP3

Cancer Screenings

Tommy Thompson reviews Medicare's coverage of screening tests for prostate, cervical and colorectal cancer.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:41 | Download MP3

Glaucoma Screenings

Tommy Thompson discusses Medicare's coverage of Glaucoma screening tests, which can lead to early detection and treatment, thereby preventing, slowing, or stopping vision loss from the disease.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:11 | Download MP3

Medicare Drug Benefit

Tommy Thompson reviews several important things seniors need to know about Medicare's drug coverage in 2007 prior to the start of enrollment on November 15, 2006.

Listen Now: Running time: 4:19 | Download MP3

Transforming the Health Care System

Tommy Thompson talks about how preventative care has the ability to transform and improve the health care provided by Medicare and the entire health care system.

Listen Now: Running time: 5:52 | Download MP3