Stories by Week

In Focus: CMS' Interim Final Rules For Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Sept 18 issued Interim Final Regulations, with a comment period, implementing certain aspects of the Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) concerning Medicare Parts C and D. The primary, though not exclusive, matters addressed in the Interim Final Rule are Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans and marketing rules relating to Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans. Login to see complete story
10/09/2008 2:38 PM

Courts

Lawsuit Challenges Legality Of Medicare, Social Security Rules A lawsuit filed Thursday (Oct. 9) in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charges the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) with adopting policies that deny otherwise eligible retirees their rightful Social Security benefits if those retirees choose not to enroll in Medicare. Login to see complete story
10/09/2008 12:59 PM

Federal Agencies

Can FHA Handle The New Stress? As federal legislative efforts open up the possibility for more mortgages to be included in Federal Housing Admin., including a wider array of reverse mortgages for 62+ homeowners, concern appears to be growing regarding whether the program can handle the crush. Login to see complete story
10/09/2008 3:20 PM

CMS Hosts National E-Prescribing Conference In Boston More than 1,400 healthcare professionals and industry leaders convened in Boston today (Tuesday, Oct. 7) at the National E-Prescribing Conference hosted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and 34 co-sponsoring organizations. Download conference presentations here. Login to see complete story
10/07/2008 2:44 PM

Deadline Approaches for Retirees and Disabled Veterans Only days remain until the Oct. 15 deadline for retirees and disabled veterans to file an income tax return that will allow them to receive an economic stimulus payment this year, advises the Internal Revenue Service. The agency also reminds retirees and disabled veterans that the money received from the economic stimulus payment will generally have no impact on eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or other benefits. In addition, the payment generally will not be counted as income or require the recipients to file future income tax returns. Login to see complete story
10/08/2008 1:06 PM

Hurricane Grant Guidelines Now Available The Internal Revenue Service has just released a notice designed to help eligible homeowners who received federal reimbursement grants stemming from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma take advantage of a new tax provision. Login to see complete story
10/10/2008 4:27 PM

Medicare Fraud Strike Force Indicts 8 Miami-Dade Residents For AIDS/HIV Infusion Fraud Eight Miami-Dade County residents have been charged in a 16-count indictment for their alleged roles in a Medicare fraud scheme involving fake HIV infusion treatments. Login to see complete story
10/08/2008 09:38 AM

Financial Services

Bailout Bill Temporarily Increases Basic FDIC Insurance Coverage President Bush on Oct. 3 signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which temporarily raises the basic limit on federal deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor. The temporary increase in deposit insurance coverage became effective upon the president's signature. The legislation provides that the basic deposit insurance limit will return to $100,000 after Dec. 31, 2009. Login to see complete story
10/08/2008 09:50 AM

Overnight Fed Interest Rate Cut Deciding not to wait 21 days to initiate another interest rate cut, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke cuts the benchmark rate by 0.5% to 1.5% during the night to help douse the flames of a world financial inferno. Login to see complete story
10/08/2008 08:15 AM

Housing

Del-Sano Nabs HUD Contract For NJ Senior Housing Project Del-Sano Contracting Corp. has been selected by Domus Housing Corp. & Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, to serve as the general contractor for the development of a $10.4 million, low-income senior housing HUD 202 project in Dumont, NJ. Login to see complete story
10/07/2008 2:53 PM

Medicare/Medicaid

CMS Beefs Up Efforts Against Waste, Fraud, Abuse The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking aggressive steps to find and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare. The agency is working closer with beneficiaries and providers; consolidating its fraud detection efforts; strengthening its oversight of medical equipment suppliers and home health agencies; and launching the national recovery audit contractor (RAC) program. Login to see complete story
10/06/2008 12:16 PM

News in the States

Study Offers Lessons On How To Attract 'Experienced' Students San Francisco-based think tank Civic Ventures -- which focuses on baby boomers and work -- has released a new report profiling 10 community colleges (in AZ, CA, FL, KY, MD, MI, NC, OR, TX, VA) that have tapped into promising new student populations, engaged local employers, and helped prepare boomers for meaningful work in the second half of life. Login to see complete story
10/06/2008 1:05 PM

Research and Reports

Several Methods Found Equally Effective For Colorectal Cancer Screening In a change from its previous recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that adults age 50 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer using annual high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy every five years with fecal occult testing between sigmoidoscopic exams, or colonoscopy every 10 years. According to the Task Force, good evidence exists that using these methods save lives. Login to see complete story
10/07/2008 3:13 PM

Retirement

Workers' Participation In Retirement Plans Shows Big Increase The percentage of workers participating in an employment-based retirement plan increased significantly in 2007 for the first time since 1998, with the increase affecting virtually all categories of workers, according to a study released today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). Login to see complete story
10/10/2008 4:48 PM

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