Stories by Week

(AMENDMENTS) Additions to Senate Health Reform Bill Would Benefit Seniors Here are brief summaries of amendments of interest to the organizations serving seniors that have been adopted by the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT). Aging News Alert will provide further updates as the legislation continues to be debated by the committee. Login to see complete story
09/28/2009 1:55 PM

(GRANTS) $30 Million Available for Partnerships between Research Centers, Community-Based Organizations The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is making available $30 million -- by way of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) -- to support development of partnerships between academic research centers and community-based organizations. This funding opportunity, developed in collaboration with the Administration on Aging (AoA), supports the development of infrastructure and staff for productive and sustainable academic-community research partnerships. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 09:42 AM

Advocacy

(NO COLA) AARP Presses Congressional Leaders for Emergency Relief in 2010 for Older Americans With an expected announcement of no Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2010, the head of AARP -- the nation's largest advocacy organization for people over 50 -- is turning up the heat under Congress to provide $250 in emergency relief to millions of older Americans who are struggling in this economic climate. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 4:50 PM

Courts

(MANDATORY MEDICARE) Judge Clears Way to Void Rules Mandating Enrollment in Medicare In an opinion handed down Tuesday (Sept. 29), Judge Rosemary Collyer of the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC denied a motion to dismiss filed by government lawyers representing Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue, clearing the way for the court to void five rules created by the Clinton Administration making receipt of an individual's Social Security retirement benefits contingent upon enrollment in Medicare Part A. Login to see complete story
09/30/2009 4:18 PM

Federal Agencies

(AGING) AoA Observes International Day of Older Persons 2009 The Administration on Aging (AoA) on Thursday (Oct. 1) joined the world community in celebrating the 19th Annual Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons. This special day recognizes the contributions of older persons and draws continued attention to the issues of global aging. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 12:10 PM

(FUNDING) AoA Releases $32 Million-Plus to Fund Key Seniors Programs The programs being funded are administered by AoA through its national aging network that includes states, tribal and area agencies on aging, community service providers, caregivers and volunteers. The services provided through these programs affect the lives of millions of older persons, people with disabilities and veterans, helping them to remain healthier and more independent. Login to see complete story
09/29/2009 4:44 PM

(INTERIM REGS) Feds Issue New Rules to Protect Patients' Genetic Information Individuals' genetic information will have greater protections through new regulations issued today (Oct. 1) by the Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury. The interim final rule will help ensure that genetic information is not used adversely in determining health care coverage and will encourage more individuals to participate in genetic testing, which can help better identify and prevent certain illnesses. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 5:22 PM

Fitness & Health

(SWINE FLU) Everything Seniors Need to Know About the Flu but Were Afraid to Ask Join U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, along with Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Jim Firman, president and CEO, National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for a special Flu.gov webcast for organizations and individuals who work with seniors. Login to see complete story
09/28/2009 1 PM

Funding Opportunities

(GRANTS) Brookdale Foundation Unveils 2010 Leadership in Aging Fellowship Program The Brookdale Foundation is seeking applicants for its 2010 Leadership in Aging Fellowship Program, a two-year fellowship program open to professionals in the field of aging. Applications are sought from candidates engaged in a broad range of related disciplines, including the medical, biological, and basic sciences; nursing; social sciences; and the arts and humanities. The award is a two-year grant -- up to $125,000 each year -- paid to the candidate's sponsoring institution in support of the candidate's research project. Login to see complete story
09/28/2009 1:16 PM

(GRANTS) Glenn Foundation, American Federation for Aging Research Seek Proposals for Aging Research Academians considering gerontology research projects may want to look into the "Breakthroughs in Gerontology" initiative, an ongoing program sponsored by the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, in collaboration with the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). Login to see complete story
10/02/2009 3:11 PM

Healthcare Reform

(FORUM) Reducing Medicare, Medicaid Costs Seen as Critical to Lowering Deficit Reducing the rate of cost increases in healthcare -- especially those in Medicare and Medicaid -- is central to cutting the U.S. budget deficit, say panelists at a Sept. 30 forum sponsored by the Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org) and the Center for American Progress (www.americanprogress.org). "If we continue to have the current growth rate in healthcare costs, [reducing the deficit] is hopeless," warns Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist and Princeton University economics and international affairs professor. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 2:45 PM

(HOUSE) Pelosi Reaffirms Pledge to Protect, Improve Medicare for Seniors Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), speaking Wednesday (Sept. 30) to reporters, reaffirmed a commitment made by the House Democratic leadership to include provisions that protect and improve Medicare in healthcare reform legislation now being explored in the House. "We all stand united to preserve Medicare, to make it solvent for many years to come," she asserted. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 11:07 AM

(HOUSE) Pelosi, Hoyer Continue Pressing for Public Option to Lower Medicare Costs Top Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have not given up on the idea of including a so-called "public option" in healthcare reform legislation. Including a public option, the leaders say, will not only lower healthcare costs for average Americans, it will also lower Medicare costs. Login to see complete story
09/30/2009 09:37 AM

Housing

(FUNDING) HUD Awards Stimulus Grants to Owners of Public Housing for Disabled, Elderly The Sept. 24 awards provide 44 Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) with money to improve existing public housing units in order to make them fully accessible or convert them to accommodate seniors and the disabled. PHAs also can use the money to provide community facilities that will make spaces for both groups accessible and provide space for support services that serve them. Login to see complete story
09/28/2009 1:30 PM

(MINNESOTA) Proposal Would Convert Vacant Schools to Senior Co-ops If you're a developer of housjng for seniors and you're looking for a unique project with the potential of attracting financial help from the federal government, consider this: A Minnesota developer is proposing to buy two former elementary schools in Minneapolis and redevelop them into senior cooperatives. Login to see complete story
10/02/2009 1:58 PM

Medicare/Medicaid

(CMS) Agency Outlines Medicare Health, Drug Plan Coverage for 2010 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare health and prescription drug plans will continue to have a wide range of plan options in 2010, and those beneficiaries who decide to change plans should find choosing a new one simpler than in previous years, officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) say. Login to see complete story
10/01/2009 4:30 PM

(PROPOSED RULE) CMS Seeks Change in Payments for End-Stage Renal Disease Dialysis Facilities The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to change the rule governing payments for Medicare outpatient end-stage renal disease (ESRD) dialysis facilities. The proposed rule would implement a case-mix adjusted bundled prospective payment system for Medicare outpatient ESRD dialysis facilities beginning Jan. 1, 2011. In essence, what this means is that ESRD facilities treating older patients would be paid at a higher rater than facilities treating younger, more healthy patients. Login to see complete story
09/29/2009 11:49 AM

(SHIP) CMS Releases More Funding for Health Insurance Counseling The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing an additional $6.3 million to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) in order to ensure beneficiaries get more information about their Medicare health and prescription drug plan choices. "These are the final disbursements for 2009," CMS spokesman Tony Salters tells Aging News Alert. "They are part of $49.6 million in total grants sent to states for their SHIP operations." Login to see complete story
10/02/2009 1:43 PM

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