| Advocacy |
(ADVOCACY) Analysis Debunks Biologic Drug Industry Myth
A new analysis by AARP's Public Policy Institute reveals the manufacturers of many top-selling biologic drugs have recouped average research and development costs several times over in the past six years, often within a single year. The report's finding busts the myth that allowing generic versions of biologic drugs will undermine further development of these breakthrough medicines. Login to see complete story
05/21/2009 3:44 PM
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(ADVOCACY) Kennelly Optimistic Reform Legislation Will Help Medicare Recipients
An advocate for Medicare recipients tells a May 20 forum they are optimistic that at least part of the agenda her organization is urging Congress to adopt will be included in healthcare reform legislation this year. But Barbara Kennelly, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, sponsor of the forum, predicts the congressional debate over healthcare reform will be very difficult. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 5:21 PM
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(MEDICARE ADVOCACY) AARP Pursues Effort to Close the 'Doughnut Hole'
AARP's "Health Action Now" campaign turns its attention this week to the growing problem of prescription drug costs and reducing the gap in prescription drug coverage for people in Medicare. Closing the Part D "doughnut hole" could save people in the program thousands of dollars in drug costs and keep them healthier by ensuring they can afford their medications. Login to see complete story
05/18/2009 5:35 PM
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| Capitol Hill |
(ENTITLEMENTS) Key House, Senate GOP Members Press Obama to Address Medicare Funding
Senate Budget Committee Ranking Republican Judd Gregg (R-NH) and House Budget Committee Ranking Republican Paul Ryan (R-WI) are urging President Barack Obama to take swift action to address Medicare's unsustainable growth. Login to see complete story
05/21/2009 4 PM
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(HOUSE) Markey, Wyden Bill Would Provide Home Care To Medicare Beneficiaries
Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), co-chairman of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease and senior member of the Energy & Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over health care policy, and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over healthcare policy, today reintroduced the proposed Independence at Home Act, HR 2560. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 11:09 AM
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(SENATE) Measure Would Update U.S. Census to Better Assess Needs of Elderly, Disabled
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), ranking Republican on the Special Committee on Aging, is pushing a measure aimed at updating the U.S. Census' function questions. The measure, Martinez says, would help improve the nation's long-term care services and support systems. By replacing a small portion of the Cen... Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 10:48 AM
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(SENATE) PBGC's Governance Questioned Amidst Charges of Mismanagement
Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) on Wednesday (May 20) presided over a hearing on whether the federal government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has the capability to fulfill its mission to insure the pensions of nearly 44 million Americans, at a time when several of the country's largest automobile companies are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 4:11 PM
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(SENATE) Senior HELP Committee Senators Seek Justice Dept. Probe of PBGC
Six senior members of the Senate have referred the results of an audit by the Inspector General for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to the Department of Justice for an independent review. Seeking the Justice Department probe are Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Max Baucus (D-MT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Michael Enzi (R-WY). The senators have conducted oversight of the PBGC in their positions as chairmen and ranking members of the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Finance Committee. Also joining the effort to prompt a Justice investigation are HELP Committee members Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Richard Burr (R-NC), who are the chair and ranking member, respectively, of the HELP subcommittee with oversight of the PBGC.
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05/21/2009 4:33 PM
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(US HOUSE) Legislation Would Help Cognitively Impaired Seniors Navigate Medicare
The legislation, dubbed "The Guidance, Understanding and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act" -- HR 2390 -- specifically targets 7 million individuals in the nation who are enrolled in both the federal Medicare health insurance program because of age or disability status and the Medicaid program, which is administered by states to provide healthcare to low-income individuals and families. Login to see complete story
05/18/2009 3:48 PM
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| Courts |
(SUPREME COURT) Justices Rule for Employer in Pregnancy Case Involving Pension Benefits
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that employers may give less credit for long-ago pregnancy leave than for other medical leave in calculating pension benefits. The decision, analysts say, is expected to increase pressure on President Barack Obama to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court. Login to see complete story
05/19/2009 08:19 AM
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| Federal Agencies |
(ELDER ABUSE) Movie Theater Elder Abuse Awareness Message Launched by AoA
As part of the Administration on Aging's (AoA) ongoing recognition of Older Americans Month, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin Walker today (Friday, May 22) said that beginning May 22 through June 18, AoA's National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) will run a 15-second elder abuse information piece on approximately 700 movie screens in 27 major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. This is the first time that one unified message regarding elder mistreatment will be echoed simultaneously throughout the country. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 12:58 PM
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(FALSE CLAIMS) Minnesota Hospitals Pay $2.28 Million to Settle False Claims Charges
Three HealthEast Care System hospitals have agreed to pay the United States $2.28 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today. All three hospitals are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 10:20 AM
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(FALSE CLAIMS) Regency Nursing & Rehab Centers Pay $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegation
Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers Inc. nursing home chain will pay the United States $4 million to settle allegations that Regency submitted false claims to Medicare and the Texas Medicaid program, according to the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. The Victoria, TX-based chain currently owns and operates 24 nursing home facilities located throughout the state. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 10:10 AM
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(MEDICARE FRAUD) Holder, Sebelius Unveil Interagency Healthcare Fraud Prevention Team
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday (May 20) announced the creation of a new interagency effort, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), to combat Medicare fraud. Holder and Sebelius also announced the expansion of Strike Force team operations to Detroit and Houston. Medicare Fraud Strike Forces, currently in operation in South Florida and Los Angeles, fight Medicare fraud on a targeted local level. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 2:47 PM
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| Financial Services |
(RETIREMENT) Debt-Free Retirement Could Be Downturn's Biggest Casualty
Consumers are more concerned about short-term security than long-term financial goals, a new study suggests. The 2009 Survey of Financial Values and Debt, sponsored by St. Paul, MN-based Securian Financial Group, indicates that saving for emergencies is among Americans' top financial priorities. And while they have found many ways to spend less, consumers are not reducing their debt. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 09:44 AM
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| Funding Opportunities |
(DENTAL HEALTH) Delta Dental Offers Grants in CT, NJ
(Deadline: Aug. 17) The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation Inc., the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of New Jersey, annually provides financial support to community clinics and facilities that help underserved populations -- especially the elderly -- gain access to dental care, facilities that provide dental treatment, dental education programs, and dental research projects. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 1:10 PM
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(DISABILITIES) Grantees Will Provide TA to Improve Voting Access
Funds provide training and technical assistance to advocates in their promotion of full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 1:17 PM
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(ENERGY) Maryland Launches Programs to Aid Energy Efficiency Efforts
The Maryland Energy Administration has established a Clean Energy Loan Payment Program to help property owners in the state finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for commercial and residential properties. Once authorized by MEA, property owners will repay the clean energy loan through a surcharge on their property tax bill. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 12:48 PM
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(PRIVATE GRANTS) Archstone Foundation Focuses on Aging-Related Issues
The Archstone Foundation's funding priorities reflect the desire to prepare society for an aging population. Building upon aging trends, research and program innovation, the foundation's mission is accomplished through strategic initiatives and responsive grantmaking. The following are the foundation's funding priorities: (1) Fall Prevention; (2) Elder Abuse & Neglect; (3) End-of-Life; and (4) Responsive Grantmaking. Login to see complete story
05/18/2009 3:58 PM
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(RESEARCH GRANTS) MJFF Funds Development of Parkinson's Biomarker Project
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has announced a funding commitment of $2 million for Biomarkers 2009. The foundation's fourth round of biomarker funding aims to continue stimulating discovery of new disease and drug biomarkers. At the same time, due to the critical need for an orchestrated, fieldwide strategy to drive tangible progress, the foundation is planning to launch a comprehensive biomarker discovery and verification effort in coming months. Login to see complete story
05/18/2009 4:16 PM
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| Housing |
(SECTION 202) Administration Seeks to Preserve Elderly Housing Program
Advocates of government-assisted senior housing have been lobbying for more budget money to help save facilities where contracts mandating affordability are approaching expiration. And while there is no significant budgetary increase for affordable housing for seniors in President Barack Obama's FY2010 budget, the concept of preserving such facilities now and in future years appears high on the administration's to-do list. Login to see complete story
05/21/2009 1:53 PM
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| Innovation |
(DUAL ELIGIBLES) States to Pursue Integrated Care Approaches for 'Dual Eligibles'
The Hamilton, NJ-based Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is launching Transforming Care for Dual Eligibles, a state initiative to test innovative care models for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (aka: "dual eligibles"). Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont will implement strategies to improve care and control costs for dual eligibles, a high-need population with health care costs nearly five times those of other Medicare beneficiaries. Login to see complete story
05/22/2009 11:23 AM
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| Message From The Editor |
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You can offer a 2-week free trial of Aging News Alert to any of your colleagues who would benefit from our wealth of timely, proprietary news. There's no cost, risk or obligation to continue. But if they wish to do so, they'll receive a Special Discounted Introductory Rate. Call 1-800-666-6380 or visit www.trycdpubs.com and check the box next to Aging News Alert. Or if you prefer, just email this notice directly to a colleague using our convenient "email to a friend" link. Login to see complete story
05/21/2009 6:02 PM
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| Research and Reports |
(RESEARCH) Understanding Age of First Menstrual Period, Menopause May Add to Prevention of Cancer, Osteoporosis, Heart Disease
In a new study, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, National Cancer Institute, and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT report they have identified 10 genetic variants in two chromosomal regions associated with age at the first menstrual period, and 13 genetic variants in four chromosomal regions associated with age at natural menopause. Login to see complete story
05/19/2009 1:35 PM
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(VOLUNTEERISM) Older Volunteers' Perceived Benefits Vary with Program Traits
The advantages of volunteering reported by adults aged 55 and older are largely dependent upon the characteristics of the activities in which they participate, according to a recent report appearing in The Gerontologist. The report's lead author, Nancy Morrow-Howell of Washington University in St. Louis, and her colleagues document the benefits of volunteering as identified by older adults -- a departure from many previous studies, which have focused on the benefits observed by researchers. Login to see complete story
05/20/2009 11:40 AM
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