Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Chairman Sanders Introduces Older Americans Act Reauthorization
Jan. 26, 2012
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which supports Meals on Wheels and other essential programs for seniors.
Go to http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=49e82ab1-a79b-49d6-a33b-2c313f3ed9a5
National Council of La Raza
Changes to Medicare Could Jeopardize Health Care Access for Vulnerable Latinos
Jan. 26, 2012
With more discussion of budget cuts, lawmakers have begun floating policy proposals that would substantially reshape or cut back on health programs critical to vulnerable Latinos, such as Medicare and Medicaid. According to a statistical brief released today by NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the Medicare program provides health coverage for not only Latino seniors, but also more than one million disabled and seriously ill Hispanic children and working-age adults.
Brookings Institute
Why Now Is Not the Time for Medicare Premium Support
Jan. 25, 2012
The United States faces large and growing federal budget deficits, driven in substantial measure by the projected growth of Medicare spending. Recently, various groups have proposed solutions they call “premium support” or “defined support.” A study panel of the Bipartisan Policy Center, chaired by former senator and budget committee chair Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Alice Rivlin, former director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office, proposed one variant. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) proposed a similar plan
Go to http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2012/0125_premium_support_aaron.aspx
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
State of the Union Reaction
Jan. 24, 2012
We share President Obama’s belief that we must rebuild our economy in a way that rewards Americans’ hard work and re-instills fairness into an economic system that too often rewards the rich and punishes everyone else. Ironically, these core American values of hard work, fairness and compassion are also the tenets of the programs most often targeted by Washington for cuts—Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Go to http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/state_of_union_reaction_2012/
Prudential
Prudential offers new benefit to long-term care insurance customers
Jan. 23, 2012
Prudential’s long-term care insurance business is now providing policyholders access to a single, integrated source for objective, high-quality, personalized guidance to support independent living. Designed by Univita Health, the Univita Living® program is based on extensive research and the knowledge of experienced health and long-term care professionals.
Go to http://www.news.prudential.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=6137
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
2011 Program Audit Findings and Best Practices
Jan. 20, 2012
In 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conducted eleven program audits to ensure sponsors were in compliance with the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan requirements relating to the following areas: Part D Formulary Administration, Part D Coverage Determinations and Appeals, Part D Grievances, Part C and D Agent & Broker Oversight, and Part C and D Compliance Program Effectiveness.
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual Unveils New Data On Long-Term Care Costs Across The Nation
Jan. 19, 2012
Northwestern Mutual's latest Cost of Long-Term Care study, released today, reveals consistently high costs for home health care, assisted living and nursing home care across the nation, underscoring the critical need to address long-term care as part of financial security planning.
Department of Health and Human Services
HHS releases more than $863 million to help low-income households with energy costs stay safe and healthy
Jan. 19, 2012
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is releasing more than $863 million today to grantees to help low-income households with their heating and other home energy costs under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). HHS is releasing the remaining funds, made available by the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74), to states, territories, tribes and the District of Columbia.
Go to http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120119a.html
Congressional Budget Office
Releases brief on the effects of raising the ages of eligibility for Medicare and Social Security
January 2012
Raising the ages at which people can begin to collect Medicare and Social Security benefits would be one way to reduce long-term fiscal imbalances. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that, under current policies, federal outlays will significantly exceed federal revenues during the coming decade and beyond.
Go to http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/125xx/doc12531/01-10-2012-Medicare_SS_EligibilityAgesBrief.pdf
MetLife Mature Market Institute
Sense of Family Financial Obligation Among Americans Is Strong, But Not Unlimited, According To New Metlife Study
Jan. 10, 2012
Americans’ sense of financial obligation to family members is strong and born out of love and generosity, but does have limits, according to a new study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. … Most Americans also believe that children have some obligation to help their aging parents financially if necessary, though many parents (42%) say they wouldn’t accept money from their children.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Chairman Sanders to Introduce Older Americans Act Reauthorization
Jan. 6, 2012
U. S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) met today with his Seniors Advisory Council and afterward announced that he will introduce a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which supports Meals on Wheels and other programs for seniors
Go to http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=c60f946b-d214-42ce-a664-934a4dfcb338
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Older Americans Act Reauthorization
Jan. 6, 2012
After a meeting on Friday with his Seniors Advisory Council, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that he will introduce a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. Sanders is the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging. His panel has jurisdiction over the landmark law which supports Meals on Wheels and other programs for seniors.
Go to http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=E70DC058-5818-45EA-B0ED-4EF6AB83A755
Summary of amendments: http://sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/OAA-fact-sheet.pdf
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Supporters of Senator Sanders Older Americans Act Reauthorization Bill
Jan. 6, 2012
Go to http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=F9FDE0D5-97C1-4A1E-8ED3-8A117DFEE1DD
National Committee for Quality Assurance
Early Adopters Are First To Seek ACO Accreditation From NCQA
Jan. 12, 2012
Six provider-based entities are the first aspiring accountable care organizations (ACOs) to seek accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance under the ACO Accreditation program NCQA launched in November.
Go to http://www.ncqa.org/tabid/1476/Default.aspx
American Heart Association
Patient groups file amicus brief with Supreme Court defending patient protections in the Affordable Care Act
Jan. 12, 2012
The nation’s leading groups representing patients and families living with cancer, diabetes, heart disease or stroke jointly filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today in support of provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are critical for people with life-threatening chronic diseases.
Go to www.newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/national-patient-groups-file-amicus-221770.aspx
National Senior Citizens Law Center
Individual Mandate Supported in Supreme Court Amicus Brief
Jan. 11, 2012
In a Supreme Court amicus brief submitted today, National Senior Citizens Law Center’s Rochelle Bobroff, acting as Counsel of Record, writes that that the Affordable Care Act’s minimum coverage provision or individual mandate “falls squarely within Congress’ authority to regulate interstate commerce” and therefore is Constitutional.
Go to http://www.nsclc.org/index.php/individual-mandate-supported-in-supreme-court-amicus-brief/
Medicare Rights Center
New Preventive Benefits that Help Medicare Beneficiaries Stay Healthy
Jan. 11, 2012
It’s 2012, and to help people fulfill their New Year’s resolutions to lead healthier lives, the Medicare Rights Center wants to remind Medicare beneficiaries of the new and existing preventive services that are available to them at no cost. Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added five new preventive benefits to its roster of free services for Medicare beneficiaries. The new preventive services include:
Go to http://www.medicarerights.org/newsroom/pressreleases/2012_01.html
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
Hatch, 34 Colleagues Lay Case For Why Partisan Health Law Should Fall In Brief To Supreme Court
Jan. 6, 2012
U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a current member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined 34 Senate colleagues in filing a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court as part of the constitutional challenge to last year’s health law. This brief argues that, if the Court finds the insurance mandate unconstitutional, it cannot be severed from the rest of the statute and that the entire law must be struck down in its entirety.
Go to http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ID=a2d46014-78e7-4011-9a9d-f772dad17ebe
Health and Human Services
Affordable Care Act provision for electronic funds transfers will save $4.5 billion
Jan. 5, 2012
New standards for electronic funds transfers in health care, required by the Affordable Care Act, will reduce up to $4.5 billion off administrative costs for doctors and hospitals, private health plans, states, and other government health plans, over the next ten years, according to estimates included in new rules published today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Go to http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120105a.html
Health Affairs
Medicaid Reform
Jan. 12, 2012
Medicaid, the nation's largest public health insurance program, provides health coverage for low-income people, or about one in five Americans. The program will also play a central role in expanding insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. However, recent concerns about federal budget deficits and the fiscal pressures on states have generated new proposals to alter Medicaid. This latest health policy brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation explores some of the major ideas being discussed for remaking the program.
Go to http://www.healthaffairs.org/press/2012_01_12.php
Association of American Medical Colleges
MedPAC Recommendation Would Jeopardize Patient Access, Resident Training
Jan. 12, 2012
The MedPAC recommendation disproportionately impacts the nation’s major teaching hospitals and will create unintended consequences for both patients and resident education. Teaching hospital outpatient departments that depend on this support provide essential, coordinated care for patients with complex medical needs in settings such as pain centers and cancer clinics.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Growth in U.S. Health Spending Remains Slow in 2010
Jan. 9, 2012
U.S. health care spending experienced historically low rates of growth in 2009 and 2010 according to the annual report of national health expenditures (NHE) published in the January issue of the journal Health Affairs.
and http://www.cms.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.asp#TopOfPage
Health Affairs
Slow Growth in Health Spending and Use of Health Care Goods and Services Continued in 2010, Federal Analysts Say
Jan. 9, 2012
An extraordinary slowing of the growth in use of health care goods and services contributed to a second year of slow health spending growth in 2010, federal analysts reported in the January issue of Health Affairs. Persistently high unemployment, a substantial loss of private health insurance coverage, lower median household income, and the burden of increased cost sharing led people to forgo care or seek less expensive treatment options.
Go to http://www.healthaffairs.org/press/2012_01_09.php
Commonwealth Fund
The Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Initiative
Jan. 7, 2012
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun reviewing applications for a new payment initiative that will test four different models of "bundled payment" for Medicare providers.
Go to http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Blog/2012/Jan/Bundled-Payment-for-Care-Improvement.aspx
Consumers Union
Medicare Study Shows Most Medical Errors Go Unreported
Jan. 6, 2012
A new study released today by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services found that hospital employees are only reporting fourteen percent of all medical errors and usually don’t change their practices to prevent future harm to patients.
Go to http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_health_care/018334.html
HHS Office of Inspector General
Hospital Incident Reporting Systems Do Not Capture Most Patient Harm
Complete Report
Jan. 5, 2012
Hospital incident reporting systems captured only an estimated 14 percent of the patient harm events experienced by Medicare beneficiaries. Hospitals investigated those reported events that they considered most likely to lead to quality and safety improvements and made few policy or practice changes as a result of reported events. Hospital administrators classified the remaining events (86 percent) as either events that staff did not perceive as reportable (61 percent) or as events that staff commonly report but did not report in this case (25 percent).
Go to http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-09-00091.asp
Download full report http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-09-00091.pdf
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Healthcare Professionals Selected For The New Innovation Advisors Program To Improve Care For Patients
Jan. 3, 2012
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that it has selected 73 individuals from 27 States and the District of Columbia for its Innovation Advisors program.
To view the press release, go to http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=4239&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date
A list of Innovation Advisors can be found at
http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=4240.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
State regulation of care quality is costly to nursing homes
Jan 1, 2012
Nursing homes are a highly regulated industry in the United States. They must comply with Federal Medicare and Medicaid standards, as well as those imposed by individual States. Maintaining compliance with all of these regulations imposes costs on nursing homes, concludes a new study.
Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jan12/0112RA8.htm
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Cost of hospitalization highest among the non-elderly
Jan 1, 2012
The average cost of a hospital stay grew more quickly for patients age 64 and younger than it did for the elderly between 1997 and 2009, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jan12/0112RA26.htm
Food and Drug Administration
Expands use of Prevnar 13 vaccine for people ages 50 and older
Dec. 30, 2012
Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, was approved today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people ages 50 years and older to prevent pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm285431.htm
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Aging Leadership Join Efforts to Stop Harmful Medicaid Florida Waiver Proposal
Jan. 12, 2012
NAELA, along with members of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCOA), met with Marilyn Tavenner, the new Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and reiterated their opposition to a Florida waiver proposal to require frail and vulnerable adults who receive Medicaid for long-term services and supports to enter into a private, managed care program.
American Health Care Association
AHCA Statement on MedPAC Recommendations for FY 2013
Jan. 12, 2012
Throughout last year and today, we’ve had positive, ongoing discussions with MedPAC, particularly regarding our rehospitalization measures that will benefit patients and providers alike. AHCA is encouraged by MedPAC’s discussion of future rehospitalization policy. We were especially pleased MedPAC acknowledged AHCA’s proposals to reduce rehospitalizations.
Go to http://www.ahcancal.org/News/news_releases/Pages/AHCAStatementonMedPACRecommendationsforFY2013.aspx
Alzheimer’s Association
HHS Releases Draft Framework For National Alzheimer's Plan
Jan. 9, 2012
The Alzheimer’s Association believes the “Draft Framework for the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease” released today by the Department of Health and Human Services offers a comprehensive outline of goals and strategies that must be addressed in the nation’s first ever strategic plan for Alzheimer’s.
Go to http://www.alz.org/national/documents/010912_NAPAFramework.pdf
American Psychological Association
Latest APA survey reveals deepening concerns about connection between chronic disease and stress
Jan. 11, 2012
The American Psychological Association’s (APA) newly released report, Stress in America™: Our Health at Risk, paints a troubling picture of the impact stress has on the health of the country, especially caregivers and people living with a chronic illness such as obesity or depression.
Go to http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/01/chronic-disease.aspx
Employee Benefit Research Institute
1 in 5 older Americans are cutting back on health care to save money
Jan. 11, 2012
More than 20 percent of Americans age 50 or over report saving on health costs by switching to cheaper generic drugs, getting free samples, stopping pills or reducing dosages, and nearly as many skip or postpone doctor appointments for the same reason, according a new report by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).
Go to http://www.ebri.org/pdf/PR955.11Jan12.HlthSpndg.pdf
Alliance for Aging Research
Use Biomarkers In Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials, Says Expert Group
Jan. 4, 2012
A group of thought leaders in Alzheimer’s disease says the science is solid and the time has come for more widespread use of biomarkers in Alzheimer disease (AD) clinical trials, to speed the identification of effective disease-modifying treatments for this incurable disorder. Recommendations by the Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Expert Working Group, convened by the not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration, are published this month in a special issue of Neurobiology of Aging, and will appear in the January print edition.
Go to http://www.agingresearch.org/content/article/detail/4362
To view prior Press Release Links,
click
here.