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Health
- United States -
- Archives 2011 -
Reports | Articles
Reports
Report: Higher Health Costs from Raising
Medicare Eligibility Age to 67 Would Consume Up to 45% of Social
Security Check for Middle-Class Seniors (November 3, 2011)
The group, Strengthen Social Security, published a study unveiling the
fact that if the deficit-cutting Super-committee increases the
eligibility age for Medicare to 67 years, up to 3.3 million people aged
65 and 66 years old will have to pay for their medical expenses.
Furthermore out-of-pocket health care costs would consume 45 percent of
those retirees' Social Security check, a whopping increase compared to
current figures (28%).
Report: The Challenges of Family Caregiving
(November, 2011)
Here is an overview of ten common themes from authors who want to reach
family caregivers. They think that policy makers and health care
professionals need to understand their needs and challenges. Since the
authors illustrate the worrying state of the current costly and
fragmented health care system, the report calls on policymakers to
prioritize caregiving on the public agenda. Hear, hear!
Report: Medicare Advantage: Enrollment
Increased from 2010 to 2011 While Premiums Decreased and Benefit
Packages Were Stable (October 31, 2011)
The United States Government Accountability Office was asked to assess
the extent to which Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment, MA premiums and
cost-sharing requirements and additional benefits offered by MA plans
have changed from 2010 to 2011. The report reveals that though
enrollment in the MA plans increased by about 6 percent within the time
frame, there was substantial variation by plan type in enrollment
levels. While local and regional preferred organizations (PPOs)
experienced the highest growth, private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans
experienced 54 percent decline. The report also states that the average
monthly premium for beneficiaries in MA plans decreased by 14 percent
within the time frame. In particular, the average monthly premium for
beneficiaries in PFFS plans decreased proportionately more than that of
health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
Report: US: Medicaid’s Long-Term Care Users:
Spending Patterns Across Institutional and Community-Based Settings
(October 26, 2011)
Read this overview about long-term care users and their acute long-term
care service spending. It reveals that although Medicaid long-term care
users make up 6 percent of the Medicaid population, they receive nearly
half of the total Medicaid spending. In particular, the report states
that one-third of elderly Medicaid beneficiaries used long-term
services and supports, but accounted for 87 percent of all Medicaid
spending on the elderly. Even though states are continuously pressed to
expand access to these long-term care services and have been given
additional resources to do so, they may be limited by the current
challenging budget environment.
Report: Converting Medicare to Premium Support
Would Likely Lead to Two-Tier Health Care System (September 26, 2011)
Some policymakers and analysts have proposed converting Medicare to a
premium support system, but new proposals differ greatly from the
premium support concept first introduced in 1995. Failure to resolve
challenges in these proposals wil likely lead to a two-tier health care
system that mainly benefits the affluent.
Report: How Would Seniors Fare – by Age,
Gender, Race and Ethnicity, and Income – Under the Bowles-Simpson
Social Security Proposals by 2070? (September 2011)
US legislators, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, co-chairs of the
deficit commission appointed by President Obama, would likely lower
Social Security benefits for most seniors entitled to benefits in 2070.
The cuts will affect all ages and income groups. Simulations show that
Social Security proposals that rely mainly on benefit cuts will weaken
income security for future generations.
Report on Baby Boomers and Older Adults
(September 2010)
The majority of older persons want to understand how US health care
reforms will affect them. Service agencies need to be prepared to help
educate individuals about health care access, coverage, and costs. In
addition, the study demonstrates that health care and aging service
providers should identify population needs and preferences for
information delivery formats within age groups and service areas.
Articles
Lawmakers Offer Bipartisan Plan to Overhaul Medicare
(December 14, 2011)
Democratic
Senator
Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Republican member of the House Paul D. Ryan,
revealed
a bipartisan proposal to rehabilitate Medicare and make a fixed federal
contribution to the cost of coverage for each beneficiary. Under the
plan,
Medicare would subsidize premiums charged by private insurers that care
for
beneficiaries under government contracts. Private plans would
also
compete with the traditional Medicare program. Will bringing together
the power
of choice and competition address the cause of medical inflation?
Hospitals
Blast Medicare Cuts in GOP Payroll Tax Bill
(December 12, 2011)
Hospital
groups
are voicing their opposition to the billions of dollars in cuts
reflected in
the House Republicans' payroll tax package. The American Hospital
Association
contends that the cuts would negatively impact the poorest people who
are often
uninsured or can't meet the necessary cost-sharing requirements under
Medicare.
The AHA is also disappointed about what's not in the bill, including
payment
increases for small rural hospitals with costly labor.
Medicare Adds Free Obesity Screening and
Counseling to Preventative Services (December 2, 2011)
Medicare added obesity screening and a full year of weight-loss
counseling to the list of preventive services it will cover in full, at
no cost to members. This action responds to the estimated 30 percent of
the Medicare population who are obese. The government hopes to
reduce the rising healthcare bills that result from obesity-related
chronic diseases.
The Real Causes of Deficits and the Debt
(December 2011)
How
do Democrats and Republicans justify draconian cuts in the
social safety net? Their argument: first, that Social Security-Medicare
and
Medicaid are the causes of federal government deficit and debt. The
second is
that Social Security and Medicare must be cut because they are
financially
unstable and may not survive until the end of the decade unless their
benefits
are reduced. However, both premises underlying their argument are
grossly
inaccurate. In fact, financing Medicare by increasing the Medicare
payroll tax,
decreasing national unemployment and raising wages creates greater
surplus into
both Social Security and Medicare funds that actually counterbalances
the
annual deficit, and therefore, the debt.
Medicare Back on the Brink over Cuts to Doctors
(November 29, 2011)
In effect from January 1, US doctors face a 27 percent cut in their
fees for treating Medicare patients, which could undermine health care
for millions of elderly and disabled beneficiaries. This is a result of
a 1990s budget law that failed to control expenditures but never got
repealed. Congress may opt for a one-year or two-year fix, which would
cost $22 billion and $35 billion in offsets respectively. A permanent
fix would cost approximately $300 billion over 10 years. Mark
McClellan, an economist and medical doctor, proposed that the best
solution would involve an overhaul of Medicare’s payment system so that
doctors are rewarded for providing quality and cost-effective care.
Giving Elderly Immigrants Easy Access to
Medicaid is in Everyone’s Best Interest (November 15, 2011)
An assistant professor at the University of Buffalo’s School of Social
Work, Yunju Nam, finds that it is more expensive for the United States
to restrict than allow immigrants’ access to Medicaid. Due to the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996, non-citizens are no longer eligible for federally funded Medicaid
if they immigrated to the United States after 1996 and have not lived
in the country for at least five years. Nam shows that such limited
access to preventative and required medical care results in increased
emergency room services and higher long-term costs to society.
Supercommitee Members Examine Medicare Voucher
Proposal (November 1, 2011)
Supercommittee members from both parties raised concerns about a new
bipartisan proposal for overhauling Medicare. The panel is said to be
looking for $4 trillion in deficit reduction, which will require
substantial healthcare savings. The new model for Medicare features a
premium-support system that would give seniors a choice of taking their
Medicare benefits in the form of a voucher for private insurance or
remain in the existing program. Other proposals include means-testing,
provider cuts to highly charged proposals like public insurance options
and increasing the Medicare eligibility age.
Medicare Wastes Billions of Dollars on
Unnecessary Cancer Screening for Elderly (October 18, 2011)
Doctors frequently ignore the recommendations of a panel of experts
when it comes to cancer tests for older patients, resulting in Medicare
paying for billions of dollars in services that are unnecessary. The
panel also achieved little success in stopping doctors from giving
preventative screening tests to patients with advanced terminal
disease. IWatch news concluded that the problem exists because doctors
disregard scientific guidelines, are unaware of them, fear malpractice
suits, or order tests for financial gain.
US: Medicare Benefits Increase for Seniors
(October 10, 2011)
Seniors enrolled in the Medicare program will enjoy more benefits. From
2012, all Medicare beneficiaries will have access to an array of free
preventive services, including an annual checkup. The government and
private insurers have also renegotiated prices of brand-name drugs with
patents expiring to provide prescriptions more cheaply.
Surprise: You Might Get Elder Care Help at Work
(September 22, 2011)
The National Alliance for Caregiving and Center for Productive Aging
from Towson University in Maryland conducted a study revealing that
employees dealing with elder care issues at home were less productive
at work. Employers who begin to recognize that such stresses and
distractions faced by employees caring for loved ones can be
alleviated, can provide resources to their workers and help them manage
their caregiving challenge.
Medicare Could Save $125 Billion (September 22,
2011)
Former senior health policy adviser in the Clinton administration, Ken
Thorpe, conducted a study revealing that the government could save more
than $125 billion in Medicare payments. This could be
accomplished if the government coordinated care–improving care for the
most vulnerable patients while saving taxpayers’ money. Lawmakers on
the Congressional debt panel reviewed the study.
AARP to 'Super Committee':
Hands off Social Security and Medicare (September 21, 2011)
The American Association of Retired Persons wants to prevent Congress
from taking money from Medicare and Social Security to reduce the
deficit by $1.5 trillion. AARP has launched a new television campaign
featuring ordinary US citizens reminding the government’s Joint Select
Committee on Deficit Reduction how hard they worked during their
working lives, and asking not to cut their benefits. AARP also
encourages Committee members talk with older US citizens.
Private
Insurance/Other
Reports
Report:
The Challenges of Family Caregiving (November, 2011)
Here is an overview of ten common themes from authors who want to reach
family caregivers. They think that policy makers and health care
professionals need to understand their needs and challenges. Since the
authors illustrate the worrying state of the current costly and
fragmented health care system, the report calls on policymakers to
prioritize caregiving on the public agenda. Hear, hear!
Employer-Sponsored
Health
Insurance
for
Early
Retirees:
Impacts
on
Retirement,
Health,
and
Health
Care (2010)
Large US employers who offer retiree health insurance have declined by
half in the past 20 years. The study authors explore what this means to
older US persons. Researchers learned that a retiree health insurance
plan increases the probability of early retirement by 37% for both men
and women. There is very strong evidence that RHI provides significant
protection from high out-of-pocket medical costs. Dropping the retiree
health insurance very likely fattens the profits of the company and its
management.
Articles
Nursing
Homes Better for Handling Dementia Patients, Study Suggests (November
18, 2011)
According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst, nursing homes and hospices are better
alternatives than hospitals for elderly dementia patients. Experts
claimed that this is because hospitals are more likely than nursing
homes to use restraints for and recommend aggressive treatments to
dementia patients.
America’s
Oldest
Old:
90-Year-Old
Population is Booming (November 18, 2011)
The number of Americans aged 90 and over is three times that three
decades ago. This number is expected to grow from 1.9 million to 8.7
million by 2050. This implies that more seniors are likely to live in
poverty and have disabilities, which places pressure on retiree income
and health care programs. Demographers believe that the increase in
life expectancy is due to better nutrition and more advanced medical
care. However, the longer life span presents additional risks for
disabilities and chronic conditions.
One in
Three Americans Not Prepared for Caregiving, Survey Finds (November 15,
2011)
A poll released by Harris Interactive reveals that more than a third of
Americans who think they will likely be a caregiver in the future are
unprepared for the financial burden that providing care involves. While
36 percent of respondents were worried about the financial costs
involved, only 23 percent were concerned about the time spent and the
expertise required.
Elderly Protest Health Care Cuts
(November 8, 2011)
Seniors protested against California Governor Jerry Brown's decision to
eliminate funding for adult day health care centers. They believe that
several residents will be forced to live in institutions once the
program goes into effect December 1. Currently, most patients live at
home with their families, while day centers provide support to these
families.
Report Links Deficit
Cuts to Medicare, Social Security (November 4, 2011)
The group, Strengthen Social Security, released a report that concludes
that increasing the eligibility age for Medicare to 67 years could
consume up to forty-five percent of middle-class seniors' Social
Security check. This means that out-of-pocket costs will constitute a
greater proportion of the Social Security check for seniors who are no
longer eligible for Medicare.
Health Care Bigger
Worry for States than Pensions, Millard Says (November 3, 2011)
Charles Millard, managing director for pension relations at Citigroup,
said that the cost of healthcare for public employees surpasses
unfunded pension liabilities as a financial worry for states. Millard,
Andy Dillon (Michigan Treasurer) and Richard Raphael (head of public
finance for Fitch Ratings) also mentioned the probability that more
states will push to replace traditional pension plans with
defined-contribution plans, which could leave more employees with too
little for retirement if they fail to pay enough into their accounts.
In particular, Dillon stated he would favor a requirement that Michigan
state employees put a certain percentage of their pay into their
401(k)’s.
End-of-life care: An Oregon Innovation
Helps People Avoid Unwanted Interventions (November 2, 2011)
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, is a document
that enables very ill and older patients to decide whether they are
willing to undergo serious interventions. Its purpose is to avoid
unwanted treatments and comply with the patients’ wishes. Thirty states
already have or plan to get similar programs. An Oregon study shows
that patients who didn’t want resuscitation didn’t get CPR, and that
when unwanted interventions were conducted, it was to relieve pain or
ensure comfort. However, people were given unwanted treatments in some
cases, most commonly antibiotics and feeding tubes.
CA Budget Cuts Make Latino
Elders Struggle for Care Alternatives (November 1, 2011)
The State of California plans to end Medicaid funding for all of its
Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) centers on December 1. The state-funded
ADHC center presently deploys vans to shuttle seniors to the center,
where they participate in recreational, physiological and therapeutic
activities. AltaMed and other adult daycare providers lobbied to stop
the cuts to no avail. These providers believe that the money cut from
the programs will cost the California more in the long run as it will
have to spend more on nursing facilities.
Upcoming Event, New Law
Provide Help for County’s Senior Citizens (October 14, 2011)
The Santa Clara County Social Services Agency Department of Aging and
Adult Services will host an event connecting local seniors with
valuable resources. The 19th Annual Adult Services Resource Fair will
feature more than 45 agencies to provide information, nutrition tips,
screening, resources and networking for consumers, caretakers and
community providers. Meanwhile, Governor Jerry Brown has signed
Assemblyman Rich Gordon’s bill aimed at helping to protect seniors in
California from fraud, identity theft and other financial abuses. The
law will go into effect on January 1, 2012.
Third of Senior
Medicare Beneficiaries Undergo Unnecessary Surgeries Shortly Before
Dying (October 7, 2011)
A study published in The Lancet revealed that nearly a third of elderly
American beneficiaries of fee-for-service Medicare undergo surgery
during their last year of life. The probability of surgery then varies
according to the patient’s age, their area of residence and
availability of hospital beds, suggesting that some operations may not
be necessary.
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DRUGS/
PHARMACEUTICALS
Reports | Articles
Reports
Report:
Seniors and Drug Prices in Canada and the United States, 2008 Edition
(August 2008)
The Fraser Institute’s report compares Canadian and US prescription
drug prices. The results show that Canadians pay an average of 101%
more for generic drugs yet they pay 57% less for brand name drugs. The
report suggests that a lack of competition among retail pharmacies and
generic manufacturers may be the cause of high generic drug prices in
Canada.
Articles
UAMS Receives $5.5
Million Grant for Aging Research (September 8, 2011)
The National Institute on Aging has given $5.5 million to finance an
Arkansas research center, the 12th of its kind. The University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences will have its own Claude D. Pepper Older
Americans Independence Center. The aim will be to ensure older persons'
independence thanks to medical research carried out by young scientists
and newly trained doctors and specialists in fields such as geriatrics
and gerontology.
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HEALTHY LIVING
Reports | Articles
Reports
Report:
Prevalence of Cancer Screening in Older, Racially Diverse Adults
(December 26, 2011)
Data
from the
National Health Interview Survey was used to examine the frequency of
cancer
screenings in older, racially diverse adults, as well as the extent to
which
they remembered physician recommendations for screening. Results
illustrate
that a high percentage of older adults go through cancer screening. It
appears
that older minority adults are being screened less frequently than
older
whites, which further reveals a continuing pattern of health care
inequalities.
More research is warranted to understand the basis of clinicians' and
patients'
decisions' to screen or not to screen.
Report: Family Matters: Public
Policy and the Interdependence of Generations (November 15, 2010)
Generations United urges policymakers to reconfigure how generations
relate to each other. For example, intergenerational dependency is
helping US citizens of all ages during these times of economic
hardship. The report calls for a White House Conference on the
Generations in order to “help keep national and state policies in line
with multi-generational family and community goals.”
Articles
New Yorkers Live Longer Than Other
Americans (December 26, 2011)
(Article in French)
Expect nearly 601,000
Lifestyle, Genetics and Faith Help to
Reach 100 Years (November 8, 2011)
(Article in Spanish)
Expect nearly 601,000 centenarians in the US by 2050. According to a
survey, the majority of the centenarians today did not expect to live
this long. They say the secret of a long life is a healthy life style.
More than a third of the US centenarians claimed that they lived a good
life because they had good genes and a strong faith.
Florida Asks Kids To Talk to the
Elderly About Safe Sex (September 25, 2011)
Customs change. Older people today have sex more than previous
generations, but usually don’t take precautions. In South Florida,
chlamydia, syphilis and HIV/AIDS among those aged 55 and older rose by
60 percent in just 4 years. For the Florida Department of Health, the
way to raise awareness on the subject might be to have younger people
talk to them about safe sex.
Health
Officials Urge Adults to Counsel Elderly Parents on Safe Sex (September
26, 2011)
The Florida Department of Health urges children to advise their aging
parents to use protection during intercourse. Florida projects that by
the year 2015 most HIV/AIDS cases will be found among people aged 50
and older.
Health Tip: Seniors, Prepare for
Exercise (August 31, 2011)
The tips to get started: Gradually increase your aerobic workouts;
practice flexibility exercises, stretching slowly, gently and within
your comfort level; use the guidance of your doctor or a fitness
professional; practice relaxation techniques; drink plenty of water
each day; and snack often throughout the day.
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