Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics
Federal Report Details Health And Economic Status Of Older Americans
July 19, 2010
Today's older Americans enjoy longer lives and better health than did previous generations. These and other trends are reported in Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being, a unique, comprehensive look at aging in the United States from the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Continues Its Public Health Investment with Research Awards for Prevention
July 15, 2010
The impacts of different public health strategies in preventing, diagnosing and monitoring health conditions in community settings will be studied by four research facilities who received awards totaling almost $10 million, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today.
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Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Secretary Sebelius, U.S. Attorney General Holder Kick-Off First Regional Health Care Fraud Prevention Summit in Miami, Florida
July 16, 2010
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today kicked-off the first in a series of Regional Health Care Fraud Prevention Summits in Miami, Florida. The summit brought together a wide-array of federal, state and local partners, beneficiaries, providers, and other interested parties to discuss innovative ways to eliminate fraud within the U.S. health care system.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100716a.html
American Academy of Neurology
Depression May Nearly Double Risk of Dementia
July 6, 2010
A new study shows that having depression may nearly double your risk of developing dementia later in life. The research will be published in the July 6, 2010, issue of Neurology.
Rush University Medical Center
Depression Symptoms Show Little Change During the Development and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
July 6, 2010
Depression is commonly reported in people with Alzheimer’s disease and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, with several studies suggesting having a history of major depression may nearly double your risk of developing dementia later in life. However, it has been unclear if depression is a symptom of the disease or a potential cause of the disease.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS Proposes 2011 Medicare Policy, Payment Changes for Services in Hospital Outpatient Departments And Ambulatory Surgical Centers
July 2, 2010
Medicare beneficiaries would see a decline in their out-of-pocket costs for services they receive in hospital outpatient departments in calendar year 2011 under provisions in a proposed rule issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare To Save Average of 32 Percent for Some Medical Equipment and Supplies In Selected Areas Beneficiaries To Save
July 2, 2010
Medicare beneficiaries in nine areas of the country who use certain medical equipment and supplies will see average savings of about 32 percent off the current cost of those items. The savings will be realized through the first round of a new Competitive Bidding Program that will be used to determine the price that Medicare pays for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Veterans Administration Awards Contract to the City of Hope to Improve Palliative Care at U.S. Veterans Hospitals
June 30, 2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded the City of Hope a three-year contract to educate nurses on how to provide better palliative care for Veterans with life-threatening illnesses.
National Institutes of Health
Adverse Cardiovascular Events Reported in Testosterone Trial in Older Men
June 30, 2010
A clinical trial of testosterone treatment in older men, reported June 30 online in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found a higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and elevated blood pressure, in a group of older men receiving testosterone gel compared to those receiving placebo.
Endocrine Society
Low Vitamin D Linked to the Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly People
July 1, 2010
A new study adds to the mounting evidence that older adults commonly have low vitamin D levels and that vitamin D inadequacy may be a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, a condition that affects one in four adults.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS To Review PECOS Enrollment Process
June 30, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with providers to address concerns about enrollment in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to receive the health care services and items they need.
National Institute on Aging
Adverse Cardiovascular Events Reported in Testosterone Trial in Older Men
June 30, 2010
A clinical trial of testosterone treatment in older men, reported June 30 online in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found a higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and elevated blood pressure, in a group of older men receiving testosterone gel compared to those receiving placebo.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Statement from Secretary Sebelius on Proposed CMS Rule to Expand Medicare Preventive Services and Expand Access to Primary Care
June 25, 2010
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took another important step to help improve the health status of Medicare beneficiaries. The proposed regulation will implement the new preventive health benefits created under the Affordable Care Act for the seniors and persons with disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health care coverage.
White House
Statement by the President on Passage of H.R. 3962
June 24, 2010
“I’m pleased that Congress has acted to ensure the security of our seniors’ health care. A 21-percent pay cut to physicians’ payments would have forced some doctors to step seeing Medicare patients – an outcome we can all agree is unacceptable.
Department of Health and Human Services
Medicare Proposes New Rules to Ensure Equal Visitation Rights for All Hospital Patients
June 23, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today proposed new rules for hospitals that would protect patients’ rights to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including visitors who are same-sex domestic partners.
Department of Health and Human Services
Senate Confirmation of Sherry Glied and Jim Esquea
June 22, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that, today, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Sherry Glied as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and Jim Esquea as Assistant Secretary for Legislation.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Statement on the One Year Anniversary of Obama "Year Of Community Living" Initiative
June 22, 2010
In honor of today’s one year anniversary of the Obama Administration’s “Year of Community Living,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced new funds for states to build innovative systems to link persons with disabilities to affordable housing in their home communities.
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National Center for Policy Analysis
Medicare "Doc Fix" Doesn't Solve The Problem
June 22, 2010
Congress will solve none of the fundamental Medicare cost problems with the "Doc Fix" extension, according to a new National Center for Policy Analysis report. The House is preparing to vote on a temporary reversal of the 21-percent cut in doctors' Medicare reimbursement rates, a measure passed earlier by the Senate.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Sebelius Announces New $250 Million Investment to Lay Foundation for Prevention and Public Health
June 18, 2010
National Prevention Council and Prevention and Public Health Fund Will Promote Public Health and Wellness
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $250 million in new Affordable Care Act investments to support prevention activities and develop the nation’s public health infrastructure.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
June 18, 2010
I am very disturbed by the findings in an upcoming GAO report on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that found instances in which benefits were given to ineligible individuals and areas where the program could be vulnerable to fraud.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
New Nationwide Study Shows a Dramatic Rise in the Proportion of Older Americans Admitted for Substance Abuse Treatment from 1992 to 2008
June 16, 2010
New admissions data show sharp increase in the proportion of older Americans being treated for illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
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White House
Weekly Address: President Obama Calls on Senate Republicans to Allow a Vote to Protect Medicare Reimbursements
June 12, 2010
In this week’s address, President Barack Obama called on Senate Republicans to stop blocking a vote to prevent a 21 percent pay cut for doctors who see Medicare patients – a pay cut that will hurt America’s seniors and their doctors.
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Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Secretary Sebelius Urges Vermont Governor Douglas to Maintain Current Benefits for Vermont’s Seniors
June 11, 2010
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today urged Vermont Governor Jim Douglas to reconsider plans to reduce state benefits to seniors who are enrolled in the state’s VPharm supplemental prescription assistance program, in response to the new Medicare Part D rebate checks.
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National Institute on Aging
Gene Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Plays Key Role in Cell Survival
June 10, 2010
Scientists have discovered that a gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease may play a beneficial role in cell survival by enabling neurons to clear away toxic proteins.
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White House
The Affordable Care Act: Strengthening Medicare, Combating Misinformation and Protecting America's Senior
June 8, 2010
The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this year will provide seniors and their families with greater savings and increased quality health care. It will also ensure accountability throughout the health care system so patients and their doctor—not insurance companies—have greater control over their own care.
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American Center for Law and Justice
ACLJ Represents Members of Congress in Filing Amicus Brief Supporting VA's Federal Suit Challenging Heath Care Law
June 8, 2010
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, said today it has filed an amicus brief with a federal court in Virginia on behalf of 28 members of Congress and more than 70,000 Americans in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law.
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America's Health Insurance Plans
New Data Provides Further Evidence of the Value Medicare Advantage Provides
June 7, 2010
A new analysis of federal and state government data provides further evidence that seniors in Medicare Advantage have lower risk-adjusted hospital readmission rates than patients in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service program, according to a report released today by America’s Health Insurance Plans.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Provides Assistance To Help Low Income Beneficiaries Get Big Savings On Prescription Drug Costs
June 1, 2010
More Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for “Extra Help” with their prescription drug costs, and be eligible to pay no more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for each brand name drug thanks to changes to Medicare’s Low-Income Subsidy Program (also known as LIS or “Extra Help”) that take effect this year.
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National Center for Policy Analysis
NCPA Report Finds "CLASS" Act Will Face Funding Shortfalls
June 03, 2010
The long-term care entitlement program established by the recently passed health law will go the way of Medicare and evolve into an unfunded liability, according to a new report from the National Center for Policy Analysis. The New Long-Term Care Entitlement
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National Institute on Aging
NIH-Supported Study Looks for Earliest Changes in the Brain That May Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease
June 2, 2010
Volunteers are being sought for a clinical study examining the subtle changes that may take place in the brains of older people many years before overt symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear. Researchers are looking for people with the very earliest complaints of memory problems that affect their daily activities.
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Iowa Office of Governor
Governor Culver Issues Executive Order; addresses issues regarding Long-Term Care Ombudsman position
May 28, 2010
Governor Chet Culver today issued Executive Order Number 24, which addresses the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The Executive Order includes two announcements: (1) The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman will be relocated to a space separate from the Department on Aging. (2) The Department of Administrative Services will conduct a search for candidates to replace the retiring Ombudsman. Once the search and interview process is complete, Governor Culver will appoint the Ombudsman.
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Food & Drug Administration
Possible Fracture Risk with High Dose, Long-term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors
May 25, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers and health care professionals about a possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with high doses or long-term use of a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors.
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Military Officers Association of America
Associations Urge House to Protect Access to Physicians for Older Americans and Military Families
May 25, 2010
Today, AARP along with the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and Military Officers Association of America, call on the U.S. House of Representatives to support the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213). This legislation will help preserve access to physicians for millions of Americans in Medicare until 2014, giving seniors the peace of mind of knowing they can find a doctor when they need one.
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National Council on Aging
NCOA and ASA Assume New Roles for Aging in America Conference
May 25, 2010
For the last several years, the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) have jointly sponsored the annual Aging in America Conference. For 2011 and 2012, ASA and NCOA have reframed their respective roles to better serve our collective memberships and the field of aging. While much will be the same, there will be some differences.
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National Association of State Units on Aging
NASUA Applauds Choice of Kurtz as new Director of the Administration on Aging Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs
May 20, 2010
Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee announced yesterday that Becky Kurtz would be joining the Administration on Aging staff as the new Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs. Kurtz has served as the Georgia State Long-Term Care Ombudsman since 1994.
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National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
n4a Applauds Expanded Efforts by HHS and DOJ to Fight Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Protect Consumers From Scams
n4a strongly supports the expanded efforts announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to fight fraud and strengthen consumer protection programs in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Building on the Affordable Care Act, the new HHS and DOJ initiative will be invaluable as we work to continue the fight against Medicare and Medicaid fraud and scams targeting older Americans.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Will See 50 Percent Savings on Applicable Drugs in The Coverage Gap in 2011
May 21, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued new guidance to Part D plan sponsors to guarantee that Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D prescription drug plans will see 50 percent savings on their brand name and some authorized generic drugs when they enter the coverage gap, or donut hole, during 2011.
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The Commonwealth Fund
Report Shows Health Reform Will Reduce Health Care Spending by Nearly $600 Billion While Improving Access to Care for 32 Million Uninsured
May 21, 2010
The Center for American Progress and The Commonwealth Fund released a report today that details the effects of the health reform law passed in March.
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AARP
AARP Applauds Senate Passage of Financial Reform Bill
May 20, 2010
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to Senate passage of financial reform legislation this evening.
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AARP
AARP Letter Urges House to Protect Older Americans’ Access to Doctors
May 20, 2010
ARP CEO A. Barry Rand today sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In his letter, Rand urged Representatives to support the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (H.R. 4213).
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American Public Health Association
New Report Reveals the Impact Transportation Has on Health
May 19, 2010
The American Public Health Association today released “The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation,” a new publication that addresses how our nation’s current transportation system contributes to today’s soaring health costs and impedes progress toward improving public health.
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Senate Special Committee on Aging
Kohl: Social Security Solvency, Targeted Benefits Can Be Improved With Modest Tweaks
May 18, 2010
Today U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, released an official Committee report on Social Security. … The report calls on Congress to enact modest changes to Social Security in the near future to bring its long-term financing into balance and improve benefits for those who need them most.
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American Health Care Association
Federal Lawmakers: ‘Severe Cuts to Medicaid Providers and Benefits’ Imminent Unless Congress Passes FMAP Extension to Help States Cope With Ongoing Budget Crises
May 18, 2010
Citing letters from 219 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 47 Governors urging congressional leaders to immediately extend federal Medicaid relief as states cope with the ongoing national recession, the leaders of the American Health Care Association and Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care today implored Congress to pass a pending six month extension to the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). The emergency relief is scheduled to expire December 31, 2010.
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PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine
Suicide risk for seniors moving into residential homes
May 18, 2010
"While a move can represent a positive change, all moves involve some degree of loss," say Carol Podgorski from the University of Rochester in New York and colleagues in an article published this week in PLoS Medicine, and this can lead to heightened risk for suicidal behavior.
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American Academy of Neurology
Falling in Old Age Linked to Low Blood Flow in Brain
May 17, 2010
A new study shows that slower than normal blood flow in the brain due to high blood pressure and other conditions may lead to falls in elderly people. The research will be published in the May 18, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Each year, unintentional falls in the United States account for more than 16,000 deaths and 1.8 million emergency room visits.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Now Available Online: 2009 BRFSS Data and Documentation and Prevalence and Trends Tables
May 17, 2010
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Behavioral Surveillance announces the release of the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data and documentation and Prevalence and Trends tables.
View 2009 BRFSS data
View 2009 BRFSS prevalence and trends data
AARP
AARP Report Finds Largest Brand Name Drug Price Spike in Eight Years While General Inflation Remains Near Zero
May 17, 2010
A new AARP Rx Watchdog report finds consumers were hit with nearly ten percent increases in brand name drug prices over the twelve-month period ending in March of this year. The 9.7 percent jump in manufacturer prices for brand name drugs widely used by people in Medicare was the largest twelve-month spike since AARP began tracking drug prices in 2002.
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American Geriatrics Society
American Geriatrics Society Names 2010 T. Franklin Williams Research Scholars Award Winner
May 17, 2010
For her research concerning referral patterns for older adult patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease to nephrologists, and the consequences of non-referral for these older adults, the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) has awarded Kellie Hunter Campbell, MD, the 2010 T. Franklin Williams Research Scholars Award. Dr. Campbell's research will help improve care for older people with chronic kidney disease. View release
American Geriatrics Society
Preventing and Effectively Treating Delirium in Elderly Can Save Seniors' Lives and May Also Lower Their Risks of Permanent Cognitive Loss
May 14, 2010
The prevention and treatment of delirium in older adults, which has been shown to save money and seniors' lives, may also lower older people's risks of permanent cognitive impairment, Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH, told an audience of hundreds of geriatrics healthcare professionals here yesterday at the American Geriatrics Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.
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American Geriatrics Society
Challenging the Assumption That Older Means More Sedentary
May 13, 2010
Exercise greatly improves health, function, and wellbeing in later life, yet many older adults assume that it's "normal" to become more sedentary with age.
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Department of Health and Human Services
HHS and DOJ Officials: Affordable Care Act Includes Important New Tools to Fight Health Fraud and Protect Medicare
May 13, 2010
Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice today highlighted the new tools in the Affordable Care Act that will help fight fraud, strengthen consumer rights and protect taxpayer dollars.
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American Geriatrics Society
Hospitals Often Fail to Discuss Risks of Feeding-Tube Insertion for Dementia Patients
May 13, 2010
When advising the relatives of dementia patients who are no longer able to eat whether to have their loved one fitted with a feeding tube, hospitals often neglect to discuss the risks of the procedure.
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American Geriatrics Society
Comprehensive, Coordinated Interdisciplinary Home-Based Care for Older Adults
May 13, 2010
A new study that will be presented during the American Geriatrics Society's Annual Scientific Meeting finds that a care model providing complex, chronically ill elderly veterans with comprehensive, coordinated, interdisciplinary, longitudinal, home-based care helps reduce the number and length of hospital stays and cuts both Medicare and Department of Veterans Affairs costs significantly.
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Louisiana State University
LSU Identifies Community Conditions Related To Malnutrition Deaths Among Older Adults
May 12, 2010
In a paper published in the May 2010 issue of the scholarly journal Annals of Epidemiology, two LSU researchers tackle a problem seldom acknowledged in the United States – the incidence of malnutrition-related deaths among older adults.
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George Mason University
Population Health Plays A Bigger Role In Geographic Differences In Medicare Spending
May 12, 2010
In a study conducted by researchers from George Mason University and the Urban Institute, it was determined that variations in Medicare beneficiaries' health across geographic areas accounts for a significant share of Medicare costs that vary widely by region.
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American Geriatrics Society
Partnership for Health in Aging Defines Universal Geriatrics Competencies Necessary for all Healthcare Professionals to Provide Quality Care for Older Adults
May 12, 2010
A set of core competencies that all healthcare professionals should have upon graduation from an entry-level professional degree program, in order to provide quality care for older adults, will be released at the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS') 2010 Annual Meeting, which runs May 12th through the 15th, in Orlando. The competencies were developed by a workgroup of the Partnership for Health in Aging (PHA), a coalition of more than 20 organizations representing eldercare professionals that the AGS convened in 2008.
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RACmonitor, LLC
New Website Launches to Help Providers Cope with CMS/Medicaid Audit Contractors
May 11, 2010
Following on the success of its RACmonitor news and information Internet portal, its founders, RACmonitor, LLC, are launching this week a comparable Website focused on the activities of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs) called www.micmonitor.com. The new site features an editorial board composed of leading experts on MIC-related issues including compliance, reimbursement, coding, documentation and appeals. Editorial board members will provide the content for the site along with bi-weekly news articles, special bulletins and breaking news stories called MIC alerts.
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Department of Justice
Medicare Fraud Fugitive Taken into Custody at Miami International Airport and Ordered Held in Pre-trial Detention Pending Trial
May 11, 2010
Garcia, 55, who has been a fugitive since 2008, was taken into federal custody yesterday at Miami International Airport, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS). Garcia self-surrendered to FBI agents upon arrival in Miami.
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American Geriatrics Society
$420,000 John A. Hartford Foundation Grant to Fund Third Phase of Association of Directors of Geriatric Programs' Geriatrics Leadership Development Program
May 11 2010
With a generous new $420,000 grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs will launch the third phase of its highly successful Geriatrics Leadership Development Program next year.
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International Osteoporosis Foundation
New Vitamin D recommendations for older men and women
May 10, 2010
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has released a new position statement on Vitamin D for older adults which makes important recommendations for vitamin D nutrition from an evidence-based perspective.
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Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Awards ARRA Funds to Establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration
May 6, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability today announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration. The contract has been awarded to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Sebelius on New Benefits for Companies and Early Retirees in the Affordable Care Act
May 4, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today issued regulations establishing the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program in the Affordable Care Act. This temporary program will make it easier for employers to provide coverage to early retirees.
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White House
Presidential Proclamation--Older Americans Month
April 28, 2010
During Older Americans Month, we show our support and appreciation for these treasured individuals who have contributed so much to our Nation.
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American Geriatrics Society
Foundation for Health in Aging Offers Information, Advice to Address and Stop Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
April 28, 2010
The American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) has published a comprehensive, easily understood tip sheet -- Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect in Older Adults.
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American Geriatrics Society
Advice on Finding Quality Nursing Home Care
April 22, 2010
To help caregivers who are considering moving a loved one to a nursing home ensure that he or she will get the best possible care, the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) has published a comprehensive, easily understood tip sheet -- Finding Quality Nursing Home Care.
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Government Accountability Office
Medicare Contracting Reform: Agency Has Made Progress with Implementation, but Contractors Have Not Met All Performance Standards
March 25, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is transitioning claims administration to 19 new entities known as Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) and plans to complete the process ahead of October 1, 2011, the date required by law.
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National Institutes of Health
Adding Coronary Calcium Score to Traditional Risk Factors Improves Risk Assessment for Heart Disease
April 27, 2010
Including a coronary artery calcium score in a risk assessment for future heart disease events, such as heart attacks, provides a better estimate in some populations than a standard coronary risk factors assessment, according to research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
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Genworth Financial
Survey Finds that the Cost of Americans' Preferred Setting for Long-Term Care Is Rising Far Less than Other Options
April 27, 2010
While long term care costs continue to rise nationally, the cost for in-home care is rising at a much slower pace. According to Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey, the cost to receive care in the home has risen at an annual rate of just 1.7 percent over the past five years.
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Department of Justice
Three Charged In Medicare Fraud Scheme In Connection With Miami-Dade Physical And Occupational Therapy Clinics
April 23, 2010
Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that defendant Ernesto Angel Montaner, formerly of Miami-Dade County, was indicted on April 22, 2010 on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and multiple counts of health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347.
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Rep. John Boehner
Obama Admin. Report Confirms New Health Care Law Increases Costs, Hurts Seniors
April 23, 2010
Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) responded today to an analysis by the Obama Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showing that President Obama’s new health care law falls well short of his pledge to “bend the cost curve.”
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Kaiser Family Foundation
Americans Remain Divided on Health Reform But Are Confused About The Law And How And When It Will Affect Them
April 22, 2010
The first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll fielded since the passage of health reform last month finds … 55 percent say they are confused about the law and more than half (56%) say they don’t yet have enough information to understand how it will affect them personally.
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American Geriatrics Society
Advice on Finding Quality Nursing Home Care
April 22, 2010
To help caregivers who are considering moving a loved one to a nursing home ensure that he or she will get the best possible care, the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging has published a comprehensive, easily understood tip sheet -- "Finding Quality Nursing Home Care".
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Age Wave/Harris Interactive
What Alarms Americans Most About Having a Long Term Care Illness?
April 12, 2010
When asked to identify their greatest fear regarding having a long term care illness, Americans are over five times more worried about becoming a burden on their families than the possibility of dying, according to a survey released today by Age Wave/Harris Interactive.
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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier May Delay Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease
April 12, 2010
Researchers may be one step closer to slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. An animal study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shows that by targeting the blood-brain barrier, researchers are able to slow the accumulation of a protein associated with the progression of the illness.
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National Eye Institute
Additional Genes Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Identified
April 12, 2010
A large genetic study of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has identified three new genes associated with this blinding eye disease-two involved in the cholesterol pathway. Results of this large-scale collaborative study, supported by the National Eye Institute were published online April 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Statement on New Health Care Quality, Disparity Reports
April 13, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement on new reports on health care quality and health care disparities faced by racial, ethnic or income groups. The new reports - the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report and the National Healthcare Quality Report - were released today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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National Council on Aging
Putting Health Reform to Work
April 12, 2010
The enactment of health reform last month was the end of the legislative process—but just the beginning of the work needed to implement the new law for those who need it most. We’ve joined the new Campaign for Better Care, a multi-year initiative focused on making health reform work for older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
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Buck Institute for Age Research via Newswise
Antidepressants as Treatment Immediately Following a Stroke?
April 12, 2010
Research in rodents highlights the need for human clinical trials of antidepressants and other drugs shown to increase the growth of new neurons. Science at the Buck Institute for Age Research suggests a new strategy for treatment of stroke.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Issues Intermediate Sanction Notice To Aetna Insurance Company Medicare Health And Drug Plans
April 9, 2010
On April 5, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice to Aetna Insurance Company of its intent to impose an intermediate sanction to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to prescription drugs under Medicare’s requirements.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
New Option for Coverage of Individuals under Medicaid
April 9, 2010
This letter is one of a series intended to provide guidance on the implementation of the health insurance reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA); P. L. 111-148, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; P. L. 111-152. Specifically, this letter provides initial guidance on Section 2001 of PPACA: Medicaid Coverage for the Lowest Income Populations.
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National Institutes of Health
Sleep Apnea Tied To Increased Risk of Stroke
April 8, 2010
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the upper airway is intermittently narrowed or blocked, disrupting sleep and breathing during sleep.
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Tufts University via Newswise
Educate Individuals to Prevent Sky-Rocketing Healthcare Costs
April 7, 2010
Educating individuals about the costs of healthcare could save money and lead to a more efficient use of the healthcare system, reports a new study. The authors note that healthcare reform offers an unprecedented opportunity to provide incentives to use the healthcare system efficiently and to educate people about the effects of their behavior on overall healthcare costs.
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Rand Corp.
Middle-Aged Americans Reporting More Mobility-Related Disabilities
April 6, 2010
The proportion of older middle-aged Americans who report disabilities related to mobility increased significantly from 1997 to 2007, in contrast to the disability decline that has been found among Americans ages 65 and over, according to a new study by the RAND Corporation and the University of Michigan. Researchers found a rise in the proportion of Americans aged 50 to 64 who reported mobility-related difficulties or the need for help in daily personal care activities such as getting out of bed, according to findings published in the April edition of the journal Health Affairs.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CMS Issues Final 2011 Beneficiary Protections and Payment Policies for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans
April 6, 2010
Seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans will see improved protections from discriminatory cost sharing and be able to better compare plans in 2011 under a final regulation issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Health and Human Services
Secretary Sebelius Announces Five New HHS Regional Directors
April 6, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the appointment of five new regional directors of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Christie Hager, Region I - Boston (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Jaime R. Torres, Region II - New York City (NY NJ, NY, PR, VI)
Joanne Grossi, Region III - Philadelphia (PA DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV)
Marguerite Salazar, Region VIII - Denver (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
Herb K. Schultz, Region IX - San Francisco (AZ, CA, HI, NV, Guam, PI, AS)
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Health and Human Services
Sebelius Remarks: Health Reform and You: How the New Law Will Increase Your Health Security
April 6, 2010
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delivered a speech entitled, “Health Reform and You: How the New Law Will Increase Your Health Security.”
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS Issues Final 2011 Payment Policies For Medicare Advantage And Prescription Drug Plans
April 5, 2010
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced the capitation rates for Medicare Advantage plans for 2011.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Announces Funding for State Health Insurance Counseling Programs for 2010
April 5, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that nearly $41.6 million for grant funding will be distributed to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) on April 1, 2010, to help people with Medicare get more information about their health choices. These grants are available to the 54 existing SHIP organizations in the United States and its territories. The funding is available to SHIPs for the grant year starting April 1, 2010 and ending March 31, 2011.
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American Public Health Association
85 percent of Americans claim to be healthy and continue to make healthy lifestyle changes
April 5, 2010
Eighty-five percent of Americans characterize their lifestyle as somewhat or very healthy, according to a survey released today by the American Public Health Association.
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Health and Human Services
Sebelius Continues Work to Implement Health Reform, Announces First Steps to Establish Temporary High Risk Pool Program
April 2, 2010
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today issued a letter to governors and independent insurance commissioners asking each state to express their interest in participating in the temporary high risk pool program established by the new health insurance reform law. The temporary high risk pool program was created to help provide coverage to people who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions. States may choose whether and how they participate in the program.
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