Stories by Week

(GOP) Republicans Unveil 'Health Care Bill of Rights' to Enlist Seniors Support The GOP's "bill of rights" message urges lawmakers to, among other things, protect Medicare, bar any effort to ration healthcare based on age, and guarantee seniors can keep their current coverage. The message fails to mention, however, that none of the legislative proposals now under consideration would in any way whatsoever encroach on healthcare benefits currently being afforded to seniors by way of Medicare or private insurance. Login to see complete story
08/25/2009 4:25 PM

(PUSH BACK) Administration's New Report Seeks to Quash 'Scare Tactics' Aimed at Seniors, Healthcare Reform In response to what the Obama administration and its supporters describe as "scare tactics" employed by certain special interest groups to dissuade seniors from supporting healthcare reform, Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday (Aug. 27) released a new report, "America's Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare." The report focuses on problems with the status quo that cause seniors to pay escalating costs for healthcare. It also outlines how health insurance reform will strengthen Medicare and protect coverage for seniors. Login to see complete story
08/27/2009 5:12 PM

Advocacy

(ENTITLEMENTS) No COLA for Social Security; Higher Medicare Premiums for Some Officials at the Social Security Administration (SSA) say it is unlikely there will be a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for recipients of Social Security benefits in 2010. The COLA is an increase to help Social Security beneficiaries keep pace with the rise in inflation. Although the COLA is not a raise, many Social Security recipients view it as such. Login to see complete story
08/27/2009 4:34 PM

(NURSING HOMES) CMS' 5-Star Rating System Called Into Question by 31 Attorneys General Thirty-one state attorneys general have signed onto a letter sent to Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, calling for the suspension and revision of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS') Nursing Home Five Star Rating System. Login to see complete story
08/28/2009 12:45 PM

Capitol Hill

(BUYING INFLUENCE) Top Corporate Campaign Donations Listed If you operate or work for a seniors services organization that receives funding from the federal government, it may be helpful for you to know who's driving the legislative agenda in Washington -- especially in view of the ongoing debate on healthcare reform. Here's a list of the top 100 corporate givers to U.S. lawmakers. Login to see complete story
08/27/2009 3:50 PM

(SENATE) 'Lion of the Senate' Ted Kennedy Succumbs to Brain Cancer Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy (D-MA), who became his family's political standard bearer after his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert Kennedy were assassinated, died Tuesday night (Aug. 25) at the age of 77 after battling brain cancer. Login to see complete story
08/26/2009 09:51 AM

Courts

(LOBBYING) Armey Aide Indicted in Abramoff Case A longtime aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) has been indicted for allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in gifts from Jack Abramoff, the now-imprisoned lobbyist who in January pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. Armey now heads FreedomWorks, a right-wing organization linked to organized disruptions -- largely by seniors -- at numerous town hall meetings initiated by congressional members to discuss healthcare reform. Login to see complete story
08/24/2009 10:49 AM

Federal Agencies

(GAO) Alternative Approaches Could Address Retirement Risks Faced by Workers but Pose Trade-offs U.S. workers face a number of risks in both accumulating and preserving pension benefits. Specifically, workers may not accumulate sufficient retirement income because they are not covered by a defined benefit (DB) or defined contribution (DC) pension plan, say analysts at the Government Accountability Office. Login to see complete story
08/24/2009 5:04 PM

Fitness & Health

(SURVEY) 55% of Americans Who Have Undergone Laser Vision-Correction Still Wearing Glasses, Contacts If you're hearing from boomers or seniors who may be considering some type of laser vision-correction surgery as an alternative to wearing glasses or contacts, you should advise them to first take a look at some fresh data gathered by Consumer Reports, the editorial and research arm of Consumers Union. A new survey by Consumer Reports Health (CRH) finds that while 80% of people who have had Lasik or other laser vision-correction surgery are "completely" or "very satisfied," some 55% of them said they still had to wear glasses or contact lenses at least occasionally. Login to see complete story
08/26/2009 5:55 PM

Funding Opportunities

(GRANTS) Awards Program Funds Mid-Career Aging-Related Research The Julie Martin Mid-Career Award in Aging Research provides support for outstanding mid-career scientists who propose novel directions of high importance to biological gerontology. Priority is given to proposals in areas unlikely to receive funding via traditional methods like the Natonal Institutes of Health because the research is high risk. Login to see complete story
08/26/2009 5:50 PM

(GRANTS) NIA Has $3.75M for Studies on Aging Behavior, Chronic Conditions (Deadline: Nov. 2) The National Institute on Aging (NIA) plans to award four or five grants of $175,000 each, totaling $1.25 million in the first year and $3.75 million over a three-year project period. The money will be used to support of NIA's Healthy Aging through Behavioral Economic Analyses of Situations program. Login to see complete story
08/26/2009 4:53 PM

(GRANTS) Regence Foundation to Reward Best Practices in Palliative Care The Regence Foundation, the corporate giving arm of the Regence Group, the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain region, is launching "Sojourns," a program designed to help people with life-threatening and incurable illness access quality palliative care in their own community. The program's Pathway grants will support hospital-based programs in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Login to see complete story
08/24/2009 06:45 AM

Healthcare Reform

(ANALYSIS) Just as CBO Erred on Medicare, It Underestimates Savings, Overestimates Costs of Healthcare Reform The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the well-respected agency that assesses the costs legislation as it moves through Congress, has for three decades underestimated the amount of savings and overestimated the costs that major changes in the nation's healthcare system would generate, says Jon Gabel, a senior fellow at the National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. Login to see complete story
08/26/2009 2:49 PM

Industry News

(ASSISTED LIVING) NCAL Names 2009 Award Recipients The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has revealed the 2009 recipients of the NCAL Administrator of the Year, Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living, and the National Assisted Living Week Programming awards. These winners represent the best in the nation in the assisted living profession. Login to see complete story
08/25/2009 3:34 PM

Medicare/Medicaid

(FINAL RULE) CMS Revises Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revising the Medicare inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals. The revisions implement changes arising from the agency's continuing experience with these systems and are in compliance with federal laws Login to see complete story
08/27/2009 11:37 AM

News in the States

(FOR DUAL ELIGIBLES) Keeping PACE with Healthcare, Program Helps Seniors Avoid Nursing Homes If healthcare reform advocates in the United States are searching for model programs in which local service providers offer quality healthcare on a public budget, they can look to PACE -- Programs of All-Inclusive Care. Aimed at keeping seniors out of nursing homes and in the community, there are 71 PACE healthcare centers in 23 states as of this year. "That number has doubled in the past five years." National Pace Association President Shawn Bloom tells Aging News Alert. Login to see complete story
08/25/2009 11:20 AM

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