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Medicare sets big 2027 payment changes as open enrollment runs

Good morning. Medicare is going through a major shake-up. The government has finalized new rules that change how doctors and home health agencies get paid in 2027. Several reports say some fees are being cut, and physician groups have given mixed reviews. Doctors' advocates are now asking Congress to soften the cuts. At the same time, officials are rolling back some provider rules and have locked in the program that lets Medicare negotiate drug prices.

These changes land right in the middle of open enrollment, when older adults pick their coverage for next year. One report warns that Medicare Advantage choices will vary a lot from county to county in 2027, so where you live may shape what you can pick.

There is hard news too. A memory care community near Chicago is being sued, and two workers are charged with sharing recordings of naked residents. In Iowa, a nursing home worker is accused of stealing residents' painkillers. And new research points to the heavy costs that family caregivers carry.