Stories by Week

AARP: Value of Family Caregiving Hits $375 Billion The economic value of family caregiving in the United States. reached $375 billion in 2007, according to a new report by AARP's Public Policy Institute. The report, which updates a groundbreaking study by AARP last year, finds that the value of family caregiving was $375 billion, 7% higher than the estimated value of $350 billion in 2006. Login to see complete story
11/24/2008 08:45 AM

AHCA Urges Congress To Delay CMS ‘Five Star’ Rating System The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is pressing congressional leaders to urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay the implementation of the Five Star nursing facility rating system, stressing that working together will be necessary to ensure the new quality index accurately represents the high-level care provided in our nation’s nearly 16,000 nursing facilities. Login to see complete story
11/25/2008 08:18 AM

Capitol Hill

Baucus, Grassley Unveil Legislative Discussion Draft Focusing On Medicare Purchasing Program Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have produced a bipartisan discussion draft of legislation that would establish a value-based purchasing program for inpatient hospital care in the Medicare program. The senators’ proposal would take steps to link Medicare payments to the quality of care patients receive rather than just the number of services a hospital provides. Login to see complete story
11/25/2008 08:30 AM

Courts

Bayer Healthcare To Pay U.S. $97.5M To Settle Charges Of Paying Kickbacks To Diabetic Suppliers Bayer HealthCare LLC has agreed to pay the United States $97.5 million plus interest to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to a number of diabetic suppliers and caused those suppliers to submit false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department says. The settlement resolves allegations that Bayer engaged in a cash-for-patient scheme through which the company paid 11 diabetic suppliers to convert their patients to Bayer’s products from supplies manufactured by its competitors Login to see complete story
11/26/2008 08:17 AM

Manchester Memorial Hospital Enters Into $712,166 Federal Civil Settlement Agreement Manchester Memorial Hospital, located at 71 Haynes Street, Manchester, CT, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal government in which it will pay $712,166 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act. Login to see complete story
11/26/2008 08:06 AM

Fitness & Health

Medicare Lessons From LBJ Show Time To Act On Health Reform Is Now As President-Elect Barack Obama ponders how to expand healthcare to millions amid an unfolding economic crisis, experts say lessons from Lyndon Johnson's experience with Medicare show that acting quickly and relentlessly pursuing a health reform agenda will make a difference between success and failure. Login to see complete story
11/25/2008 11:29 AM

Housing

One In Four Boomers Plan Move, New Survey Reports One in four baby boom generation households (26%) expects to move from their current home in the future, with the majority looking for a single-level home that is more comfortable or convenient, according to a new survey prepared for AARP. Login to see complete story
11/26/2008 07:36 AM

Medicare/Medicaid

Home For The Holidays: Residents Can Leave The Nursing Home Residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) can leave their facility to attend a family holiday celebration without losing their Medicare coverage. The Medicare Benefit Policy Manual recognizes that although most beneficiaries are unable to leave their facility, an outside pass or short leave of absence for the purpose of attending a special religious service, holiday meal, family occasion, going on a car ride, or for a trial visit home, is not, by itself evidence that the individual no longer needs to be in a SNF for the receipt of required skilled care. Login to see complete story
11/26/2008 12:42 PM

Research and Reports

How Boomers Will Confront, Affect, Adapt To The Next 20 Years Baby Boomers may not recognize themselves and their surroundings by the year 2028 as a result of an evolving global environment and marketplace. How they adapt and mitigate risk as we move into the future is the subject of a new project by the Institute for the Future done in conjunction with the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Login to see complete story
11/24/2008 08:30 AM

NIAMS Researchers Develop Non-Invasive Test For Osteoarthritis Researchers funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) have identified a new method to diagnose and monitor cartilage changes in people with osteoarthritis (OA). Their discovery, which was reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, holds promise for interventions to preserve joint function in individuals identified at early stages of the disease. Login to see complete story
11/26/2008 07:57 AM

Studies Question Benefits Of Current Medicare Advantage Program Structure Although Medicare Advantage’s (MA) private health plans have given beneficiaries more alternative ways to receive Medicare benefits, they have also created more complexity, generated negligible gains in quality, and added to the costs of the Medicare program, researchers report in three studies published today on the Health Affairs website. Publication of the studies was supported by a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies. Login to see complete story
11/24/2008 08:14 AM

Services

Liberty Mutual, ITNAmerica Urge Families To Give The Gift Of Safety As Aging Relatives Hit The Road During Holiday Season The holidays may be the best time for older drivers to consider transitioning to the passenger seat. In addition to Thanksgiving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists Dec. 22, 23 and 24 among the deadliest days of the year for all drivers. Yet the wintry weather and crowded roads are of particular concern for senior drivers, many of whom are also dealing with health conditions, medication, and the normal changes associated with aging that put their driving at-risk. Login to see complete story
11/25/2008 11:43 AM

Webcast: 'Political Promises' Takes On Health Reform What lies ahead for health reform? Will President-elect Obama bring insurance coverage to more Americans despite the country's financial problems? Login to see complete story
11/28/2008 11:11 AM

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