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HMOs Leave Elderly Stranded
Tue, 07/14/1998 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
Over 400,000 Medicare beneficiaries who opted into Medicare HMOs will have to find another plan by January 1, 1999. That'™s how many people are impacted by the recent announcement that 33 companies are withdrawing completely from the Medicare program and another 31 companies are pulling out of certain geographical areas. The beneficiaries impacted by these changes will have to either join another HMO or return to traditional Medicare. Some will have no alternative but to return to the traditional Medicare program since there are no remaining Medicare HMOs in their geographic area.
Many people chose their Medicare HMO because the premiums are lower than the cost of a Medigap policy, for the reduced out-of-pocket expenses, or to get expanded coverage for prescription medications. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has been encouraging seniors to join these programs, and has been hoping to use managed care as a way to reign in the galloping cost of the Medicare program. HMO executives state they are getting out either because the premiums are insufficient to cover the cost of providing services, or because they were unable to get the level of participation they required to make the plan cost-effective. The mass exodus of plan providers may shake confidence in the Medicare managed care program.
Changing HMOs has many implications for beneficiaries. One of the most significant is that HMOs require beneficiaries to use physicians and other providers which are a part of their network. If a Medicare beneficiary changes plans, and their physician is not a provider in that plan, the beneficiary will have to select a physician who is a plan provider. The beneficiary will need to find out which physicians are affiliated with the new plan, and more importantly which of them are actually accepting new patients, then select a new physician.
If the beneficiary elects to return to the traditional Medicare program, he or she will probably need to purchase a Medigap policy. These policies pay the coinsurance and deductibles not covered by Medicare, and some also include prescription drug coverage. Many Medicare HMOs included prescription drugs as a part of their plan benefits, and that coverage will be lost when exiting the plan. Medigap policies may be prohibitively expensive, and may be difficult to obtain for people with a history of medical problems.
This change is likely to be confusing for many people, but there are a number of resources available to make it easier. The Seniors Health Insurance Counseling Programs and the state Departments of Insurance will help seniors make decisions, and many of them have publications and rate information posted on the Web. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has also posted some information to help beneficiaries make new choices.
Over 400,000 Medicare beneficiaries who opted into Medicare HMOs will have to find another plan by January 1, 1999. That'™s how many people are impacted by the recent announcement that 33 companies are withdrawing completely from the Medicare program and another 31 companies are pulling out of certain geographical areas. The beneficiaries impacted by these changes will have to either join another HMO or return to traditional Medicare. Some will have no alternative but to return to the traditional Medicare program since there are no remaining Medicare HMOs in their geographic area.
Many people chose their Medicare HMO because the premiums are lower than the cost of a Medigap policy, for the reduced out-of-pocket expenses, or to get expanded coverage for prescription medications. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has been encouraging seniors to join these programs, and has been hoping to use managed care as a way to reign in the galloping cost of the Medicare program. HMO executives state they are getting out either because the premiums are insufficient to cover the cost of providing services, or because they were unable to get the level of participation they required to make the plan cost-effective. The mass exodus of plan providers may shake confidence in the Medicare managed care program.
March 1999
Mon, 03/01/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Role of Seniors Housing in Long Term Care from the American Seniors Housing Association reports America's reliance on Medicaid as a publicly-financed long-term care entitlement program continues to impede the development of more cost-effective, market-based long-term care solutions that the public prefers.
According to a survey by a survey by the National Council on Aging and John Hancock Life Insurance, more Americans worry about paying for long-term care than paying for retirement, 70% flunked a quiz about the basic facts of long-term care, and 48% indicated they have done little or no long-term care planning.
A study by Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York estimates unpaid caregiving for ailing adults costs $200 billion per year, and notes that cost dwarfs spending for home health care and nursing home care and is roughly equivalent to 1/5 of the nation's total annual health care costs.
Older adults are concerned about their security but someone else is worrying about them more: their adult children, according to a study by The National Council on the Aging and SecurityLink from Ameritech.
The Congressional Budget Office issued a new report, Projections of Expenditures for Long Term Care Services for the Elderly, which estimates long term care expenditures will grow 2.6% a year, and will total $139 billion for institutional care and $39 billion for in-home care by the year 2020.
The Congressional Budget Office has posted a report on Social Security Privatization: Experiences Abroad, which examines the pension systems in several countries.
National Report on Elder Abuse and Neglect estimates that at least one-half million older persons in domestic settings were abused and/or neglected, and that a significant number of perpetrators of abuse are the adult children of the elderly.
Income and Assets of the Elderly, published by the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, includes a number of graphs and charts illustrating the financial status of older people.
Role of Seniors Housing in Long Term Care from the American Seniors Housing Association reports America's reliance on Medicaid as a publicly-financed long-term care entitlement program continues to impede the development of more cost-effective, market-based long-term care solutions that the public prefers.
According to a survey by a survey by the National Council on Aging and John Hancock Life Insurance, more Americans worry about paying for long-term care than paying for retirement, 70% flunked a quiz about the basic facts of long-term care, and 48% indicated they have done little or no long-term care planning.
April 1999
Thu, 04/01/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The General Accounting Office released a new report: Assisted Living: Quality-of-Care and Consumer Protection Issues in Four States. ElderWeb brings you the report and the response of providers.
Medicare's Post-Acute Care Benefit: Background, Trends, and Issues to Be Faced - escalating expenditures have catalyzed concerns that use of these services has become excessive and does not necessarily improve the health of beneficiaries, according to a report from Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
Boomers Unprepared for Long Term Care - 27% of Baby Boomers think they are covered by long term care insurance, but very few actually carry this coverage. 80% do not know how long term care is paid for and 25% say they are unwilling to consider paying for any additional insurance to cover these costs, according to a report from the American Health Care Association.
Assisted Living: Who is the Customer? - excerpts published in Contemporary Long Term Care Magazine from a study done by the National Investment Center for Senior Living and Long Term Care showed 2/3 of residents have incomes below $25,000.
The General Accounting Office released several reports about Nursing Home Quality Standards, which ElderWeb brings you, along with the response of providers.
Developing an Information Infrastructure for the Medicare+ Choice Program, the full text of a book from the Institute of Medicine and published by the National Academy Press, is online.
Shopping for Assisted Living, What Consumers Need to Make the Best Buy - hearing results are posted from U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, also posted are hearing results on Long Term Care for the 21st Century, A Common Sense Proposal to Support Family Caregivers
National Guideline Clearinghouse - is a new repository for clinical practice guidelines for healthcare providers from Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
Meeting the Challenge of Serving People with Disabilities in Managed Care is a Resource Guide designed to support efforts to measure and improve Medicaid MCO performance for people with disabilities from Agency for Health Care Policy and Research .
Exploratory Study of Health Care Coverage and Employment for People With Disabilities is a final report released by Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
International Evidence on Disability Trends Among the Elderly study results were released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
The General Accounting Office released a new report: Assisted Living: Quality-of-Care and Consumer Protection Issues in Four States. ElderWeb brings you the report and the response of providers.
Medicare's Post-Acute Care Benefit: Background, Trends, and Issues to Be Faced - escalating expenditures have catalyzed concerns that use of these services has become excessive and does not necessarily improve the health of beneficiaries, according to a report from Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
May 1999
Fri, 04/30/1999 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
HCFA Tells States to Prepare for Looming Crisis - Sally Richardson, of HCFA, warned state Medicaid directors that several nursing home chains reporting significant financial difficulties may close or at least withdraw from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, from Center for Long Term Care Financing.
US Hospitals Expect To Lose More On Treating Medicare Beneficiaries - Within the next 3 years, at least 70% of hospitals and healthcare systems in the US will experience losses from treating Medicare beneficiaries, from InteliHealth.
Home Care Takes Toll on Caregivers - "Family members who are called upon to provide health care for a loved one at home often do so at the risk of their own health. And, because they often don't have the proper training, they can put their loved one at risk as well." from Michigan State University.
Home Care Savings Can Be Quadrupled With Home Modifications and Assistive Devices, a study published today in the journal Archives of Family Medicine concludes a combination of home modifications and assistive technology devices allows frail elders to remain in their homes longer and spend up to four times less money on home care services.
Health Care Information and Inspiration, is an hour long radio call-in program on health care with a focus on aging. ACHCA President/CEO Karen S. Tucker, CAE, will host the 13-week pilot which will reach 3 million people in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut and 4 million people in Arizona.
Family Caregiving in an Aging Society, by Sharon Tennstedt, Ph.D. Vice President & Director Institute for Studies on Aging, New England Research Institutes, has results of research into informal family caregiving and who needs and receives care.
On May 13, 1999, Congressman Benjamin Cardin introduced HR 1796 Medicare Chronic Disease Prescription Drug Benefit Act of 1999 to provide for a chronic disease prescription drug benefit under the Medicare Program.
On May 6, 1999, Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced HR1716, A Bill to Provide for the Study of Long-term Care Needs in the 21st Century. The bill proposes a one-year study to review core issues surrounding long-term care that continue to befuddle many lawmakers and policy experts.
For some interesting ideas, take a look at Old Age - World's Best Ideas - a compendium of innovative ideas from shared housing to interaction with pets and children from Global Ideas Bank.
Pension Search Directory - Is it possible that you or someone you know may be owed a pension benefit without knowing it? This Pension Search Directory from the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation is filled with the names of people who have worked long enough to earn a pension benefit, but could no longer be located by their companies. It includes almost 7,200 people owed nearly $13 million in pension benefits.
Financial Challenges for Mature Women: Creating Financial Plans and Evaluating Financial Planners information from the National Center on Women and Aging.
ABA Handbook on Laws Affecting Senior Citizens - full text of the handbook in PDF format is available from the American Bar Association.
HCFA Tells States to Prepare for Looming Crisis - Sally Richardson, of HCFA, warned state Medicaid directors that several nursing home chains reporting significant financial difficulties may close or at least withdraw from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, from Center for Long Term Care Financing.
US Hospitals Expect To Lose More On Treating Medicare Beneficiaries - Within the next 3 years, at least 70% of hospitals and healthcare systems in the US will experience losses from treating Medicare beneficiaries, from InteliHealth.
June 1999
Mon, 05/31/1999 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
There is a nationwide search underway for Best Practices in Coordinated Care for People with Chronic Illnesses by Mathematica The findings will be used to design a demonstration project for the Medicare fee-for-service population based on this evaluation.
The 1999 National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics will be held October 19-29 in Orlando, Florida. In preparation for the Games, over 25,000 senior athletes are qualifying to compete. These athletes compete in 50 state senior games across the country. Over 11,000 senior athletes are expected to attend.
Bradley University's Center on Aging is seeking adult women age 55 or older living with an adult child with a developmental disability as participants for a study, called Aging Together, about their concerns on providing their sons and daughters with adequate housing, emotional support, physical care, and financial assistance.
The 1999 Retirement Confidence Survey was released June 15 by the Employee Benefits Research Institute. The survey showed many current workers expect to work to age 65 or longer, and plan to continue to work in retirement. However, 43% of current retirees stated they retired earlier than they planned, often because of health problems or disabilities. Others reported retiring earlier than expected because of downsizing or family problems, and only 14% of those who retired earlier than they expected did so because they felt they could afford to retire early.
The National Institute on Aging has announced a Memory Research Study which will evaluate how to prevent mild cognitive impairment from becoming Alzheimers Disease. They are currently looking for volunteers for their research.
$196 billion a year is contributed to the U.S. health care system by an "invisible" health care sector, the family and friends who provide care at home for the chronically ill, according to a study on the Value of Caregiving announced by the Alzheimer's Association.
The Alzheimer's Association has also released a study, Caregiving's Heavy Toll on Family which reports Alzheimer caregiving is intense, hard work and carries with it heavy costs -- for families and for society.
Baby Boomers Fear Talking to Their Parents About Death and are reluctant to ask about their parent'™s final wishes, according to new research released by the National Hospice Foundation.
RealVideo clips are posted online from the American Society on Aging's Annual Convention, Who Should Be Responsible for Long Term Care Financing?
The spring issue of Consumer Choice News, Government by Waiver Gets Mixed Results, is devoted to exploring ways to reduce the bias toward institutionalization and the medical model in delivering long term care.
The National Council on the Aging reports a new study shows Declining Disability Rates Among the Elderly, a very hopeful sign!
The Global Aging Initiative Forum, Aging and the Challenge to Global Prosperity, has a RealPlayer Webcast of the forum activities. This project is designed to explore the implications of global aging across a range of policy spectrums.
The National Council on the Aging reports results of a study showing Untreated Hearing Loss Leads to Depression and Isolation in Seniors, which debunks the myth that untreated hearing loss in older persons is a harmless condition.
Not new, but worthy of note, is Can America Afford to Retire? The document, published in PDF format by the National Commission on Retirement Policy, discusses demographic trends, fiscal pressures, and personal savings practices that will lower future retirement living standards.
The Wall Street Journal has posted online a 45 minute RealAudio broadcast of a meeting of healthcare industry analysts and the CEO of Capital Senior Living, who explains how demographics, private payment, access to capital and risks of overbuilding will impact the future of long-term care facilities for the elderly.
The AARP has released the results of a study, Stealing Time, which indicates few people want to live to be 100, mostly due to their fears about declining health and lack of money.
The Alliance for Aging Research study, Independence for Older Americans, was released this month to the US Senate Committee on Aging. This study reported that for older Americans who become disabled or enter a nursing home each year, the increase in medical and long-term care costs are $26 billion greater than if they had not had an increase in their level of dependence over that year.
The Austin Business Report has posted an article, Caring For Your Elders Can Ruin You Financially. The article discusses how the cost of long term care can financially devastate many families.
The Loneliness of the Long-Term Care Giver - a professional with 20 years experience in healthcare finds a new perspective on the system as she cares for her critically ill husband, from New England Journal of Medicine.
Research & Other Developments of Interest in Employer Group Long Term Care Insurance - ongoing study done by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research is looking at the existing employer group market and how LTC insurance benefits are structured, with a final report expected in the summer.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has established an expert committee to examine the means for assessing, overseeing, and improving the quality of long-term care in different settings and the practical and policy challenges of achieving a consistent quality of care regardless of the site of care. The final report, Continuing to Improve Quality in Long Term Care is due soon.
There is a nationwide search underway for Best Practices in Coordinated Care for People with Chronic Illnesses by Mathematica The findings will be used to design a demonstration project for the Medicare fee-for-service population based on this evaluation.
The 1999 National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics will be held October 19-29 in Orlando, Florida. In preparation for the Games, over 25,000 senior athletes are qualifying to compete. These athletes compete in 50 state senior games across the country. Over 11,000 senior athletes are expected to attend.
July 1999
Wed, 06/30/1999 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
Rep Bill Archer announced Republican proposals for tax breaks for long term care. The plan includes tax credits for long term care insurance and tax breaks for people caring for elderly relatives at home. Current legislation allows long term care insurance as a medical deduction, but that only provides a tax break to people with medical expenses in excess of 7 1/2% of their taxable income, and then only serves to reduce taxable income, rather than reduce taxes directly. The plan will be taken up by the House Ways and Means Committee.
President Clinton announced his new Medicare Plan in July. There are a number of proposed changes to the Medicare program, including the inclusion of coverage for pharmaceuticals in the standard Medicare plan, something which has long been a serious missing link. To pay for this coverage, he proposes beneficiaries pay a new premium, starting with $22 a month in the first year of the program, and rising to an estimated $45 a month in later years, which will provide reimbursement for half the cost of pharmaceuticals up to a cap. The cap on total pharmaceutical costs available for the match will be $2,000 a year in the first year of the program, and will rise to $5,000 a year, so that the 50% reimbursement will max out at $1,000 in the first year, and ultimately at $2,500.
Researchers Dubowsky, S., Skwersky, A., Yu, H., Kozono, H., AuYeung, F. and Yu, L.S. at MIT are developing a Personal Aid for Mobility and Monitoring. The goal of this project is to develop a smart personal mobility aid and health monitoring system ("Smart Walker") for the elderly living independently or in assisted-living facilities. The Smart Walker will enhance the user's mobility and stability, provide the user with location and guidance in the living environment, and monitor the health of the user.
US News and World Report has posted their new 1999 Retirement Guide online. It includes their ultimate retirement calculator, an interactive tool that calculates the amount of money needed for retirement and how to attain it.
The Canadian Association of Retired Persons and Fifty-Plus Net have archived a NetShow file of CARP's Home Care Conference from June 25, 1999. Their is a link to download the NetShow software available on the site. An estimated 150 invited participants examined a variety of topics, including compensation and training for the care-giver, standards for informal caregiving and the caregiver's "re-entry" into normal life.
A recent report issued by the National Bureau of Economic Research concludes that the demand for private market long term care facilities may be dampened by the increasing health of older men. The researchers, Darius Lakdawalla and Tomas Philipson, found a correlation between the health of the men and the utilization of long term care.
Many people wish to be guided by their religions when making health care and end-of-life decisions. Most of the major religious organizations in the United States have published official statements to guide their members regarding living wills, health care proxies, and other issues relating to end-of-life planning. Michael S. Arlein provides a list of on- and off-line information available for various religious groups, including Orthodox and Reformed Jews, Islam, and Christian in his ElderWeb article Religious Guidance and End-of-Life Decisions.
There is a nationwide search underway for Best Practices in Coordinated Care for People with Chronic Illnesses by Mathematica The findings will be used to design a demonstration project for the Medicare fee-for-service population based on this evaluation.
The 1999 National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics will be held October 19-29 in Orlando, Florida. In preparation for the Games, over 25,000 senior athletes are qualifying to compete. These athletes compete in 50 state senior games across the country. Over 11,000 senior athletes are expected to attend.
Bradley University's Center on Aging is seeking adult women age 55 or older living with an adult child with a developmental disability as participants for a study, called Aging Together, about their concerns on providing their sons and daughters with adequate housing, emotional support, physical care, and financial assistance.
The 1999 Retirement Confidence Survey was released June 15 by the Employee Benefits Research Institute. The survey showed many current workers expect to work to age 65 or longer, and plan to continue to work in retirement. However, 43% of current retirees stated they retired earlier than they planned, often because of health problems or disabilities. Others reported retiring earlier than expected because of downsizing or family problems, and only 14% of those who retired earlier than they expected did so because they felt they could afford to retire early.
Rep Bill Archer announced Republican proposals for tax breaks for long term care. The plan includes tax credits for long term care insurance and tax breaks for people caring for elderly relatives at home. Current legislation allows long term care insurance as a medical deduction, but that only provides a tax break to people with medical expenses in excess of 7 1/2% of their taxable income, and then only serves to reduce taxable income, rather than reduce taxes directly. The plan will be taken up by the House Ways and Means Committee.
Aug/Sep 1999
Sat, 07/31/1999 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
Does modern medicine victimize older people by overtreating them?
Read an interesting forum on this subject in Aging
Today.
The latest news in the effort to fight Medicare fraud is that some Medicare contractors (intermediaries and carriers like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado) are guilty of mishandling claims and paperwork.
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends everyone over age 50 get the flu vaccine, a more conservative approach than the previous recommendation that everyone over age 65 get the vaccine.
Get a free "no frills will" from Nolo Law during October with a free subscription to their Nolo Briefs newsletter. Be sure to check out Auntie Nolo's answers to common legal questions while you're there.
Major nursing home chain Vencor, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is the largest healthcare provider to date to seek bankruptcy protection. Vencor made the news last year when they attempted to discharge Medicaid residents in several homes in an attempt to opt out of the Medicaid program because of low reimbursement rates.
The Library Media Project has created Issues of Aging, a collection of videos to be made available to public libraries. There is a brief description of each work, a moderated video discussion for some titles, and connections to the distributors of the videos.
National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" program from September 9 featured a discussion of tax-deductible long term care insurance. A RealPlayer file of the program is available on the web site.
Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Trial - if you are a woman over age 65 with a family history of Alzheimers Disease (AD), you may be eligible to participate in an exciting new study to determine if estrogen can prevent the onset of memory loss or AD, from Columbia University.
Dominate nursing home chain, Beverly Enterprises enters a tentative criminal settlement with the government on charges of Medicare billing improprieties. Up to 10 of their nursing homes could be banned from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and they will pay fines of $5 million. Under a previously announced tentative civil settlement they owe another $170 million.
Just like last year, dozens of Medicare HMO plans withdraw from Medicare program leaving 326,146 beneficiaries stranded. Beneficiaries will have to find a new plan by January 1, 2000, but 79,186 will have no other Medicare HMO to choose from.
The latest news in the effort to fight Medicare fraud is that some Medicare contractors (intermediaries and carriers like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado) are guilty of mishandling claims and paperwork.
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends everyone over age 50 get the flu vaccine, a more conservative approach than the previous recommendation that everyone over age 65 get the vaccine.
Oct 1999
Thu, 09/30/1999 - 11:00pm — Karen StevensonDescription:
Helping.org is a new one-stop resource to help people find volunteer and giving opportunities in their communities.
Most women will spend more years caring for dependent parents than they spend caring for dependent children. Older Women's League
Mariner Post Acute Network, a large national long term care provider chain, is de-listed by the NYSE and its ratings are downgraded by the S&P.
Do you know where to report elder abuse? The National Center on Elder Abuse has posted a list of phone numbers to use in each state to report suspected abuse.
ElderWeb publisher Karen Stevenson Brown spoke about eldercare issues at the annual meeting of the California Credit Union League in Sparks, NV October 22.
Social Security payments will increase by 2.4% starting in January. This is the largest cost of living increase in three years.
An annual Social Security Statement will be issued to all beneficiaries, starting October 1. This statement will show workers estimates of benefits which will be available to them.
Are you (or your parents) giving money to worthy organizations? GuideStar and the Urban Institute have developed web sites where you can look up financial information charitable organizations have filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
Another national nursing home chain declares bankruptcy. Shortly after the bankruptcy of Vencor, Sun Healthcare files for Chapter 11 protection.
Helping.org is a new one-stop resource to help people find volunteer and giving opportunities in their communities.
Most women will spend more years caring for dependent parents than they spend caring for dependent children. Older Women's League
Mariner Post Acute Network, a large national long term care provider chain, is de-listed by the NYSE and its ratings are downgraded by the S&P.
Nov 1999
Mon, 11/01/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
It's something like the Make a Wish Foundation, but the Second Wind enhances the quality of life of facility-based older adults by fulfilling their dreams and improving the perception of aging.
Seniors' most popular drugs have increased in cost at 4 times the rate of inflation, while the pharmaceutical industry reports record profits, according to a report released by the consumer watchdog group Families USA and Consumers Union.
Beverly Enterprises, one of the largest nursing home chains in the country, announced the resignation of its President and COO, Boyd W. Hendrickson.
A recent study published in the Annuls of Internal Medicine concludes there is no significant difference in the timeliness and quality of care delivered to elderly HMO patients as compared to those covered under fee-for-service plans.
Helping.org is a new one-stop resource to help people find volunteer and giving opportunities in their communities.
Mariner Post Acute Network, a large national long term care provider chain, is de-listed by the NYSE and its ratings are downgraded by the S&P.
Do you know where to report elder abuse? The National Center on Elder Abuse has posted a list of phone numbers to use in each state to report suspected abuse.
It's something like the Make a Wish Foundation, but the Second Wind enhances the quality of life of facility-based older adults by fulfilling their dreams and improving the perception of aging.
Seniors' most popular drugs have increased in cost at 4 times the rate of inflation, while the pharmaceutical industry reports record profits, according to a report released by the consumer watchdog group Families USA and Consumers Union.
Dec 1, 1999
Wed, 12/01/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors and professionals.
I apologize for some publishing difficulties I had with the ElderWeb Advisor Directory. After receiving last week's newsletter, many people reported back to me that their listings did not show up on ElderWeb, and that the form used to submit information was not working correctly. After lots of support calls back and forth between Microsoft and my web host, it turned out that the problem was that ElderWeb has grown so large that it had to be broken up into smaller webs in order for Microsoft to properly handle the directory listings and form. This required some navigation changes (so please note that the directory and form URL have changed.) Now that this has been done, hopefully you will be able to see your listings in order to confirm their accuracy. Again, I apologize for the snafu!! Recipients of this newsletter are listed, if they so choose, in the ElderWeb Eldercare Advisors directory. If you know of others who might like to sign up for the newsletter, and set up a directory listing, have them click on the ListBot icon on ElderWeb's home page at http://www.elderweb.com.
The first class-action lawsuit related to excessive premium increases in long term care insurance was just settled this week. The defendants included Acceleration Life Insurance Company, National Standard Life Insurance Company, and Commonwealth Life Insurance Company, for policies they sold in 23 states. The $12.6 million settlement includes a cap on premiums for policyholders, some of whom have received 325% or more in increases on their "level premium" policies.
This lawsuit illustrates an important issue to consider in evaluating long term care insurance policies - the fact that "level premiums" provisions are not a guarantee that premiums will not increase! These provisions only promise that premiums for an individual policyholder will not increase more than other policies included in the same class. The carrier is not prohibited from increasing premiums for all policyholders of "XYZ" policy in the state of Illinois, for instance. What appears to have happened, is that some unreputable insurers have deliberately under-cut current premiums in order to jump-start policy sales.
The important lesson is that the quality of the insurance carrier is critical in evaluating long term care insurance policies. A policy with a higher current premium offered by a carrier with a history of holding to modest increases would be far preferable to a policy with unusually low premiums offered by a less reputable carrier who might raise those premiums precipitously in the future.
Complete settlement information is available at
http://www.classadmin.com/currentlit/hanson/index.htm
Help your clients save money on long term care needs. A recent study hows that a combination of home modifications and assistive technology devices allows frail elders to remain in their homes longer and spend up to four times less money on home care services. Archives of Family Medicine
http://archfami.ama-assn.org/issues/v8n3/full/foc8065.html
Dr. David Landsdale of Stanford University presented information on the success of his LinkingAges program at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in San Francisco last week. His program to teach nursing home and assisted living residents to use the Web has gotten results like one women confined to a wheelchair who stated, "You have opened up the heavens to me."
http://www.linkages.net/nytimes_article.html
Naomi Nelson of Baylor University offers advice in the Medical Tribune about helping families of Alzheimers patients deal with the holidays. You may wish to pass along these ideas to your clients...
http://www.medtrib.com/cgi-bin/medtrib/articles/record?record=2502
Long Term Care Campaign is a new organization site representing a coalition of 147 national organizations dedicated to enacting comprehensive legislation to protect American families against the devastating costs of long term care. The site includes information about how to contact legislators about long term care issues.
Why should families be willing to spend money for professional assistance? A new study on the costs of caregiving, done by MetLife and the National Alliance for Caregivers and Brandeis University, reports a cost of over $650,000 in lost wages and pension benefits to family members who shoulder caregiving responsiblities. This study included only a small sample of caregivers, but the implications of this statistic could be enormous!
http://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,500062484-500103333-500450351-0,00.html
Uruguay has the highest percentage of elderly in the hemisphere, but it has become internationally recognized for its treatment of the elderly. Even the Japanese have come to study programs considered more advanced than those in many wealthier nations in the First World.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/25/100r-112599-idx.html
Welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors and professionals.
I apologize for some publishing difficulties I had with the ElderWeb Advisor Directory. After receiving last week's newsletter, many people reported back to me that their listings did not show up on ElderWeb, and that the form used to submit information was not working correctly. After lots of support calls back and forth between Microsoft and my web host, it turned out that the problem was that ElderWeb has grown so large that it had to be broken up into smaller webs in order for Microsoft to properly handle the directory listings and form. This required some navigation changes (so please note that the directory and form URL have changed.) Now that this has been done, hopefully you will be able to see your listings in order to confirm their accuracy. Again, I apologize for the snafu!! Recipients of this newsletter are listed, if they so choose, in the ElderWeb Eldercare Advisors directory. If you know of others who might like to sign up for the newsletter, and set up a directory listing, have them click on the ListBot icon on ElderWeb's home page at http://www.elderweb.com.
Dec 15, 1999
Wed, 12/15/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors and professionals.
Stem cell transplants offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissue to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There is almost no realm of medicine that might not be touched by this innovation. Transplant of healthy heart muscle cells could provide new hope for heart attack victims. There is evidence that transplantation of either the entire pancreas or isolated islet cells could mitigate the need for insulin injections for diabetics. The hope for Alzheimers victims is that the production of nerve growth factors inside the brain will rescue damaged brain cells and enhance the production of other depleted cells. For more information, read the following articles:
Draft guidelines from the National Institutes of Health on stem cell research:
http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/factsheet.htm
A scientific primer on stem cell research:
http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/primer.htm
A consumer-oriented article on the topic from MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/311219.asp
Spousal caregivers who experience mental or emotional strain experience a 63% increase in their risk of mortality, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n23/full/joc91040.html
AARP research has determined that out of pocket costs for people on Medicare average $2,430 a year, largely due to drug costs, and are in excess of $3,000 a year for 25% of Medicare beneficiaries. These costs do NOT include home health or nursing home expenses.
27% of Medicare beneficiaries had private Medigap plans, 37% had employer-sponsored health plans, and 16% had enrolled in Medicare HMOs. Others had Medicare only, with no supplemental insurance, were on Medicaid, or were in CHAMPUS or other public insurance plans. Beneficiaries with Medigap plans averaged $3,250 in out-of-pocket expenses, including $1,885 in Part B and private insurance premiums and $1,365 in goods and services. Beneficiaries with employer-sponsored plans averaged $2,545, including $1,130 in premiums and $1,415 in good and services. Beneficiaries in Medicare HMOs averaged $1,630, including $910 in premiums and $720 in goods and services.
http://research.aarp.org/health/ib41_hspend.html
Nursing homes across the nation will face tougher penalties for violations. Nancy-Ann DeParle, head of the Health Care Financing Administration, announced immediate penalties for homes with repeat violations, including fines of up to $10,000, suspension of Medicare or Medicaid payments for newly admitted residents, or exclusion altogether from those government health insurance programs.
http://www.hcfa.gov/news/pr1999/p991214b.htm
Massachusetts will triple the number of state nursing home inspectors in response to two recent cases of elder abuse in nursing homes, as lawmakers overrode Gov. Paul Cellucci's veto of the provision. $1.5 million will be budgeted to pay for the increased inspection costs.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19991215/hl/nursing_homes_4.html
The Institute on Medicine (IOM) has released reports examining the potential costs and benefits of including new services in the Medicare program, including nutrition therapy, medically necessary dental services, skin-cancer screening, routine care during clinical trials, and immunosuppressive drugs for transplant recipients.
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/121599?OpenDocument
The IOM has released a frightening study on the prevalance and cost of medical errors, which they estimate will kill 44,000 to 98,000 people each year, with a total cost of between $17 and $29 Billion!
A press release is at:
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309068371?OpenDocument
The full text of the study is at:
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9728.html
A consumer-oriented article is on MSNBC at:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/344073.asp
Medicare will step up their efforts to make sure that private insurance carriers are picking up their share of the costs for Medicare beneficiaries by creating national Coordination of Benefits contractors.
http://www.hcfa.gov/news/pr1999/p991214a.htm
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has issued draft standards for a proposed accreditation program for assisted living facilities. These have been posted for public comment at:
Welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors and professionals.
Stem cell transplants offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissue to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There is almost no realm of medicine that might not be touched by this innovation. Transplant of healthy heart muscle cells could provide new hope for heart attack victims. There is evidence that transplantation of either the entire pancreas or isolated islet cells could mitigate the need for insulin injections for diabetics. The hope for Alzheimers victims is that the production of nerve growth factors inside the brain will rescue damaged brain cells and enhance the production of other depleted cells. For more information, read the following articles:
Dec 22, 1999
Wed, 12/22/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Merry Christmas and welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors, professionals, and family caregivers.
AARP has developed a analysis, available as a downloadable PDF file, on state pharmaceutical assistance programs. Researchers contacted each state, and the District of Columbia, to identify programs which provide relief for pharmaceutical costs for older Americans. Another source of information on pharmaceutical assistance programs has been created by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which has published a downloadable directory of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs. The Institute has developed a listing of programs for free or low cost pharmaceuticals available from the drug manufacturers, and the Needy Meds site has long provided this kind of information.
http://research.aarp.org/health/9905_pharm_1.html
http://www.phrma.org/patients/index.html
http://www.institute-dc.org/prescrip.htm
http://www.needymeds.com/index.html
Health Canada has published a series of statistical snapshots of Canada's seniors. For example, nearly 34% of Canadians age 85 and over are living in institutions. The breakdown by sex is that about 38% of women and 24% of men in that age group are institutionalized.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/factoids/en/factoid.htm
A new study released by the National Council on Aging shows that Medicare beneficiaries could benefit from coalitions that would bargain on their behalf for better rates and services, improved consumer protection, and better information to help them make confusing choices. Authorization for the information-oriented Medicare Consumer Coalitions was included in SB1895 - The Medicare Preservation and Improvement Act of 1999, introduced by Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and William Frist (R-TN).
http://www.ncoa.org/news/archives/NCOA_Study_Proposes_MCCs.htm
The full text of this bill is available at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:S.1895:
For the aged and disabled, motorized wheelchairs and scooters can often restore freedom and self-reliance. But at several thousand dollars each, these buggies represent a major investment that should not be undertaken lightly. Contrary to the usual sales pitch, these expensive vehicles are not always covered by Medicare. The National Council on Aging has published an eye-opening article on the subject, "Rascals Come in Many Forms".
http://www.ncoa.org/news/archives/rascals_come_in_many_forms.htm
Days Inns, the world's largest hotel chain, has agreed to implement a nationwide initiative designed to make hundreds of its new hotels across the country more accessible to persons with disabilities, under an agreement reached with the Justice Department. The investigation revealed that accessibility problems existed throughout the chain, including insufficient accessible parking; inaccessible entrances and walkways at the facilities; inadequate space for persons who use wheelchairs to maneuver in guestrooms and bathrooms; insufficient visual alarm systems for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; inadequate signage for persons who are blind or have low vision; inaccessible routes throughout the hotels; and guestroom and bathroom doors that are not wide enough to allow wheelchairs to pass inside.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/1999/December/579cr.htm
Does geographic discrimination exist in the Medicare program? Medicare HMO beneficiaries are finding that benefits vary greatly from place to place. For example, prescription medicines are covered for some, while others pay for them entirely out of pocket. These differences in benefits can amount to hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to beneficiaries.
http://www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/12/16/medicare/index.html?CP=YAH&DN=110
Merry Christmas and welcome to ElderWeb.com's email newsletter! The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term care site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors, professionals, and family caregivers.
AARP has developed a analysis, available as a downloadable PDF file, on state pharmaceutical assistance programs. Researchers contacted each state, and the District of Columbia, to identify programs which provide relief for pharmaceutical costs for older Americans. Another source of information on pharmaceutical assistance programs has been created by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which has published a downloadable directory of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs. The Institute has developed a listing of programs for free or low cost pharmaceuticals available from the drug manufacturers, and the Needy Meds site has long provided this kind of information.
Dec 29, 1999
Wed, 12/29/1999 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Happy New Millennium and Merry Y2K!!! Here's hoping everyone has a pleasant, and UNEVENTFUL New Years!
As we roll into the new year, I want to thank everyone for your interest in and support of ElderWeb. Please keep sending me your ideas, questions, and concerns, and I'll try to address some of them in future editions of this newsletter. For instance, I'll be discussing tips on how to build and market a professional practice and adding more international information - to mention just a couple of the topics suggested by the recipients of this newsletter.
Sometimes family members who have become responsible for their parents' affairs need to request copies of lost records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, military records, old tax returns, Social Security payment records, and so on. These records may be needed to apply for benefits like Medicare or Medicaid, or just to organize and manage their parent's financial affairs. I have started a Web page which makes it easy to link to application forms and other information needed to collect these lost records from a variety of sources both in the US and elsewhere in the world.
http://www.elderweb.com/library/finance/vital_records.htm
Social Security checks will increase by 2.4% starting in January, and the maximum amount of earnings a beneficiary age 65 to 69 may earn without losing any Social Security benefits will increase from $15,500 in 1999 to $17,000 in 2000. The premium for Medicare Part B will remain unchanged in 2000 at $45.50 a month. See the details of these and other changes on the Social Security Administration and HCFA's Medicare sites:
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/2000cola.htm
http://www.medicare.gov/amounts2.html
A research study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that after the implementation of an integrated home care program, there was a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations compared with pre-implementation, which resulted in a 29% cost reduction with an estimated savings of $1,260 per patient.
"Retiring Abroad" is a new publication of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. This online publication discusses citizenship, taxation, and health care issues related to living in a foreign country.
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/travel/consular/retirement_abroad-e.htm
Revenue Canada has published "Canadian Residents Going Down South" which discusses Canadian tax implications on residents living in other countries.
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/p151eq/p151eq.html
Buying Prescription Drugs Online - the Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a new website devoted to answering questions like: Thinking of buying prescription or over-the-counter drugs online? Is it safe? How can you tell if a Website that sells medical products is legitimate? What is FDA doing to stop sites that are breaking the law? What should you do before you buy medical products online?
http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has initiated a program to allow pharmacists, pharmacies, and other entities licensed or registered by the state boards to submit their initial license application and renewal through the Internet, and allow users to check Internet site URLs to see if that site has been licensed.
California State Senator Joseph Dunn has introduced SB898 to establish stable long-term care insurance rates with non-cancellation provisions. Speaking at the recent winter meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in San Francisco, Sen. Dunn said, "The vast majority of players are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, we found that some players in the market are not doing the right thing." These companies are "bidding low," he said, adding that ultimately he hopes to reduce if not eliminate these low bidders.
http://www.nunews.com/lifeandhealth/hotnews/122399a.asp
The text of the bill is at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_898&sess=CUR&house=B
The age at which people may receive Social Security Benefits in the United States will gradually be increased from the current age of 65. This change will start with persons born in 1938 and affect everyone with later birth dates. The Social Security Administration has published a Web page which provides information about this change, and provides a form where you can calculate anyone's Social Security eligibility age by typing in their birth year.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm
The award-winning ElderWeb.com is the oldest and most comprehensive long term carse site for eldercare professionals, containing over 5,000 on- and off-site articles on medical issues, finance, law, housing, research and statistics. This newsletter will provide eldercare news of interest to accountants, Geriatric Care Managers, attorneys, and other advisors, professionals, and family caregivers.
Happy New Millennium and Merry Y2K!!! Here's hoping everyone has a pleasant, and UNEVENTFUL New Years!
As we roll into the new year, I want to thank everyone for your interest in and support of ElderWeb. Please keep sending me your ideas, questions, and concerns, and I'll try to address some of them in future editions of this newsletter. For instance, I'll be discussing tips on how to build and market a professional practice and adding more international information - to mention just a couple of the topics suggested by the recipients of this newsletter.
Sometimes family members who have become responsible for their parents' affairs need to request copies of lost records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, military records, old tax returns, Social Security payment records, and so on. These records may be needed to apply for benefits like Medicare or Medicaid, or just to organize and manage their parent's financial affairs. I have started a Web page which makes it easy to link to application forms and other information needed to collect these lost records from a variety of sources both in the US and elsewhere in the world.
National Family Caregiver Support Funded
Mon, 01/17/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The National Family Caregiver Support Program has received funding. The funding by state is as follows:
National Family Caregiver Support Program Funding
FY 2001, By State
Alabama 1,739,242
Alaska 564,300
Arizona 1,956,318
Arkansas 1,125,177
California 11,359,851
Colorado 1,245,978
Connecticut 1,509,874
Delaware 564,300
District of Columbia 564,300
Florida 8,721,584
Georgia 2,305,333
Hawaii 564,300
Idaho 564,300
Illinois 4,732,281
Indiana 2,331,599
Iowa 1,391,731
Kansas 1,139,251
Kentucky 1,516,043
Louisiana 1,535,025
Maine 564,300
Maryland 1,843,229
Massachusetts 2,766,510
Michigan 3,848,418
Minnesota 1,875,522
Mississippi 1,031,878
Missouri 2,337,876
Montana 564,300
Nebraska 732,458
Nevada 603,803
New Hampshire 564,300
New Jersey 3,496,629
New Mexico 594,433
New York 7,612,334
North Carolina 2,916,628
North Dakota 564,300
Ohio 4,739,721
Oklahoma 1,388,901
Oregon 1,396,517
Pennsylvania 6,097,763
Rhode Island 564,300
South Carolina 1,421,896
South Dakota 564,300
Tennessee 2,083,754
Texas 6,147,379
Utah 573,563
Vermont 564,300
Virginia 2,354,500
Washington 2,083,944
West Virginia 854,259
Wisconsin 2,203,655
Wyoming 564,300
American Samoa 70,538
Guam 282,150
Northern Marianas 70,538
Puerto Rico 1,203,867
Virgin Islands 282,150
112,860,000
The National Family Caregiver Support Program has received funding. The funding by state is as follows:
National Family Caregiver Support Program Funding
FY 2001, By State
Alabama 1,739,242
Alaska 564,300
Arizona 1,956,318
Arkansas 1,125,177
California 11,359,851
Colorado 1,245,978
Connecticut 1,509,874
Delaware 564,300
District of Columbia 564,300
Florida 8,721,584
Georgia 2,305,333
Hawaii 564,300
Idaho 564,300
Illinois 4,732,281
Indiana 2,331,599
Iowa 1,391,731
Kansas 1,139,251
Kentucky 1,516,043
Louisiana 1,535,025
Maine 564,300
Maryland 1,843,229
DASH/Low Sodium Diet Reduces Blood Pressure
Mon, 01/17/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The National Institutes of Health announced results of a study that found that the combination of following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet with reduced sodium levels reduced blood pressure more than either the DASH diet or lower sodium intake alone. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Director Dr. Claude Lenfant said that "These results challenge Americans to eat the DASH diet and to reduce sodium consumption and the food industry to reduce sodium levels in foods. Meeting this challenge, along with other lifestyle changes, could prevent the rise of blood pressure with age and allow patients to control their hypertension with fewer or even no drugs."
"The combination of eating the DASH diet at a lower sodium level is a significant effect ? equal to or greater than the result you would expect from treatment with a single hypertension medication," says Dr. Frank Sacks, chair of the DASH-Sodium Steering Committee and Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "However, the long-term health benefits of the low sodium DASH diet will depend on whether the American public is willing to make long-lasting dietary changes, including choosing lower sodium foods, and whether the food industry makes available a greater number of lower sodium food products," adds Dr. Sacks.
The findings were published in the January 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The National Institutes of Health announced results of a study that found that the combination of following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet with reduced sodium levels reduced blood pressure more than either the DASH diet or lower sodium intake alone. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Director Dr. Claude Lenfant said that "These results challenge Americans to eat the DASH diet and to reduce sodium consumption and the food industry to reduce sodium levels in foods. Meeting this challenge, along with other lifestyle changes, could prevent the rise of blood pressure with age and allow patients to control their hypertension with fewer or even no drugs."
Women With Spine Fractures Likely to Incur Repeat
Mon, 01/17/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Reasearchers led by Dr. Robert Lindsay, of Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, New York, investigated the incidence of repeat fractures for older women who incur osteoporosis-related spine fractures. They determined that women who suffer such fractures are five times more likely to incur a second fracture within the next year, despite receiving calcium and vitamin D. Lindsay's team concluded that it is extremely important to identify women with low bone density before fractures occur so that treatments can be started to reduce bone loss. The study was reported in the January 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Reasearchers led by Dr. Robert Lindsay, of Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, New York, investigated the incidence of repeat fractures for older women who incur osteoporosis-related spine fractures. They determined that women who suffer such fractures are five times more likely to incur a second fracture within the next year, despite receiving calcium and vitamin D. Lindsay's team concluded that it is extremely important to identify women with low bone density before fractures occur so that treatments can be started to reduce bone loss. The study was reported in the January 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
UK Expands Long Term Care Availability
Mon, 01/24/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
Britain's National Health Service (NHS) is in the process of greatly expanding and revamping long term care services. The changes are being made in response to recommendations made by The Royal Commission on Long Term Care. Under the new NHS Plan the government will make new investments in intermediate care and associated services amounting to £900 million a year by 2003/2004 to promote independence, provide more choice for older people and deliver higher quality care. On top of this they will be targeting additional resources, for £360 million a year by 2003/2004, to tackle the anomalies and inequities of the present funding system for long term care. Many of these changes will become effective in April of 2001.
Under the new rules, NHS nursing care will be free in all settings. This change will benefit around 35,000 people at any time who could save up to around £5,000 for a year's stay in a nursing home.
Requirements for people to sell their homes to qualify for care will be softened. For the first three months from admission to residential care, the value of the resident's home will be disregarded from the means test to allow people time to decide whether it will be necessary to sell the property to pay care costs. This change will benefit around 30,000 people each year, who will save up to £2,000- £2,500 during the first three months of their stay. The NHS is still reviewing a suggestion that local councils extend loans to low income persons who need care so that they don't have to sell their homes during their lifetimes.
New statutory guidance will be issued to reduce the variation in the amounts people are asked to pay for help at home, which now vary greatly from one local council to another -- a system critics call the "postcode lottery". The means test for getting assistance from local councils will be increased from £16,000 to £18,000, which will benefit around 20,000 people in residential care homes and nursing homes.
Resources behind two social security benefits, the Preserved Rights to higher levels of Income Support and the Residential Allowance, will be transferred to local councils to make available additional resources to support the care costs of pre-1993 residents whose income support rates have fallen short of their care home fees.
The Government will investigate the regulation of long term care insurance after a Treasury led committee has reported on how the financial services industry can reassure its customers about the quality and reliability of the products available for financing long term care.
The report of the Royal Commission recommended that personal care, including nursing care and some social care tasks such as help with bathing, should be funded from general taxation, subject to an assessment of need. The NHS responded that three quarters of those in residential or nursing care already get some or all of their personal care costs met from public funds through local councils, and that making personal care free for everyone would consume most of the additional resources they plan to make available for older people through the NHS Plan without necessarily improving services. Therefore, this recommendation will not be followed.
Britain's National Health Service (NHS) is in the process of greatly expanding and revamping long term care services. The changes are being made in response to recommendations made by The Royal Commission on Long Term Care. Under the new NHS Plan the government will make new investments in intermediate care and associated services amounting to £900 million a year by 2003/2004 to promote independence, provide more choice for older people and deliver higher quality care. On top of this they will be targeting additional resources, for £360 million a year by 2003/2004, to tackle the anomalies and inequities of the present funding system for long term care. Many of these changes will become effective in April of 2001.
City Council Agenda: Elderly Shopping Cart Thieves
Mon, 01/24/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The Detroit Free Press reports that many grocers are having difficulty keeping elderly customers from taking their shopping carts home with them. Eighty-year-old Southfield Councilman Sidney Lantz plans to discuss this problem at next week's city council meeting. He said grocery store managers are seeing carts disappear in especially large numbers in neighborhoods that have many elderly residents -- and the carts often show up in the parking lots of senior citizen high-rises. Lantz says the frailer seniors need to lean on the carts to get their groceries home, and proposes that the city purchase 100 collapsible carts -- at $17 apiece -- and give them to seniors in need so that they won't have to take the grocery store carts. Lois Hitchcock, 70, chairwoman of Southfield's Commission on Senior Adults, says she doesn't think the solution is feasible. Bill Knox, a 59-year-old communications representative for the AARP, calls it ageism, and said "until someone can demonstrate that older citizens are responsible for stealing shopping carts, I'm reluctant to see this as an issue."
The Detroit Free Press reports that many grocers are having difficulty keeping elderly customers from taking their shopping carts home with them. Eighty-year-old Southfield Councilman Sidney Lantz plans to discuss this problem at next week's city council meeting. He said grocery store managers are seeing carts disappear in especially large numbers in neighborhoods that have many elderly residents -- and the carts often show up in the parking lots of senior citizen high-rises. Lantz says the frailer seniors need to lean on the carts to get their groceries home, and proposes that the city purchase 100 collapsible carts -- at $17 apiece -- and give them to seniors in need so that they won't have to take the grocery store carts. Lois Hitchcock, 70, chairwoman of Southfield's Commission on Senior Adults, says she doesn't think the solution is feasible. Bill Knox, a 59-year-old communications representative for the AARP, calls it ageism, and said "until someone can demonstrate that older citizens are responsible for stealing shopping carts, I'm reluctant to see this as an issue."
Granny D Walks Across Country
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
90 year old Doris Haddock, known to her great grandchildren as "Granny D", has walked 3,200 miles across the country to raise awareness of the need for campaign finance reform. Her concern is that special interests have the only voice in Washington, largely due to the enormous cost of campaigning. She began her trek New Year's Day behind the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and reached the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC yesterday. Her original goal was to reach the Capitol on her 90th birthday, January 24, but she was slowed down by the rush of media attention and a few setbacks. She was hospitalized for dehydration while walking through California's Mojave desert, but resumed her walk, and covered 10 miles the day after she left the hospital. Her supporters have created a special web site that chronicles her journal and provides information about campaign finance reform.
90 year old Doris Haddock, known to her great grandchildren as "Granny D", has walked 3,200 miles across the country to raise awareness of the need for campaign finance reform. Her concern is that special interests have the only voice in Washington, largely due to the enormous cost of campaigning. She began her trek New Year's Day behind the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and reached the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC yesterday. Her original goal was to reach the Capitol on her 90th birthday, January 24, but she was slowed down by the rush of media attention and a few setbacks. She was hospitalized for dehydration while walking through California's Mojave desert, but resumed her walk, and covered 10 miles the day after she left the hospital.
Living With Heart Failure
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The American Heart Association has created a special web site for victims of heart disease, called "Living With Heart Failure." The site includes information about exercise and diet, treatments, a caregiver's guide, and other help for both the patient and family members.
The American Heart Association has created a special web site for victims of heart disease, called "Living With Heart Failure." The site includes information about exercise and diet, treatments, a caregiver's guide, and other help for both the patient and family members.
American Stroke Association News
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The American Stroke Association reported at their annual meeting that the use of nurse practitioners in stroke care seems to have extremely good results. By assigning the nurse practitioner to take responsibility for the care of the patient throughout their hospital stay, post-stroke complications were better managed, resulting in fewer deaths and less complications.
Also reported at this meeting was a study that showed that stroke incidence, after declining in the 1960's and 1970's, is on the rise. They estimate that about 1.5 million people will suffer from strokes or "mini-strokes" (TIAs) this year. Researchers speculated that one reason for the increase is that people are surviving other diseases that would have killed them in the past, including heart attacks and diabetes, both of which put them at risk for stroke. Stroke risk also increases with age, and people are living longer than they used to.
The American Stroke Association reported at their annual meeting that the use of nurse practitioners in stroke care seems to have extremely good results. By assigning the nurse practitioner to take responsibility for the care of the patient throughout their hospital stay, post-stroke complications were better managed, resulting in fewer deaths and less complications.
Also reported at this meeting was a study that showed that stroke incidence, after declining in the 1960's and 1970's, is on the rise. They estimate that about 1.5 million people will suffer from strokes or "mini-strokes" (TIAs) this year. Researchers speculated that one reason for the increase is that people are surviving other diseases that would have killed them in the past, including heart attacks and diabetes, both of which put them at risk for stroke. Stroke risk also increases with age, and people are living longer than they used to.
Elder Fraud Ends in Murder
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
In a gruesome story of a con gone wrong, a mother and son con team attempted to trick an elderly women into revealing her social security number so they could take possession of her home, then killed her when she refused to cooperate. The criminals, Sante Kimes (65) and her son Kenneth (24), are currently on trial for the death of 82 year old Irene Silverman. Evidence in the trial includes a taped conversation with the victim in which Kimes attempted to fool Silverman into believing she had won a trip to Las Vegas in order to get her social security number. Silverman was sharp enough to smell a rat, and refused to give Kimes the information. Silverman later disappeared, and her body has never been found. Police found Silverman's keys, Social Security card, passports and payroll stubs in the Kimes' home on the day of Silverman's disappearance. They also found 12 notebooks detailing their scheme, $30,000 in cash, and a forged deed to Silverman's home transferring ownership to a company the Kimeses controlled.
In a gruesome story of a con gone wrong, a mother and son con team attempted to trick an elderly women into revealing her social security number so they could take possession of her home, then killed her when she refused to cooperate. The criminals, Sante Kimes (65) and her son Kenneth (24), are currently on trial for the death of 82 year old Irene Silverman. Evidence in the trial includes a taped conversation with the victim in which Kimes attempted to fool Silverman into believing she had won a trip to Las Vegas in order to get her social security number. Silverman was sharp enough to smell a rat, and refused to give Kimes the information. Silverman later disappeared, and her body has never been found. Police found Silverman's keys, Social Security card, passports and payroll stubs in the Kimes' home on the day of Silverman's disappearance. They also found 12 notebooks detailing their scheme, $30,000 in cash, and a forged deed to Silverman's home transferring ownership to a company the Kimeses controlled.
TWST Special: Health Care Sector
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The Wall Street Journal's Wall Street Transcript program has prepared a special report on the healthcare sector. The report includes dozens of interviews with healthcare executives who discuss the future of the healthcare industry, Internet healthcare services, prescription drug costs, managed care and HMOs, and other healthcare topics. (Requires registration)
The Wall Street Journal's Wall Street Transcript program has prepared a special report on the healthcare sector. The report includes dozens of interviews with healthcare executives who discuss the future of the healthcare industry, Internet healthcare services, prescription drug costs, managed care and HMOs, and other healthcare topics. (Requires registration)
Ohio Resident Killed by Social Security
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
An Ohio resident has been trying to convince the government he's still alive. He was declared dead in the Social Security records on August 16. After that, the Social Security Administration took more than $2,600 from his bank accounts to recoup payments made after his "death", and Medicare declined coverage to in January because computer records showed he was deceased. He had to meet a Social Security employee in person and show photo identification to prove he was still alive, although the agency apparently didn't need a death certificate to declare him dead!
An Ohio resident has been trying to convince the government he's still alive. He was declared dead in the Social Security records on August 16. After that, the Social Security Administration took more than $2,600 from his bank accounts to recoup payments made after his "death", and Medicare declined coverage to in January because computer records showed he was deceased. He had to meet a Social Security employee in person and show photo identification to prove he was still alive, although the agency apparently didn't need a death certificate to declare him dead!
AARP Voter Guides Posted
Wed, 03/01/2000 - 12:00am — Karen StevensonDescription:
The AARP has created voter's guides for all the presidential candidates to identify their positions on Medicare, Social Security, long term care reform, and other issues important to older Americans. The guides include video clips of the candidates speaking on each of these issues.
The AARP has created voter's guides for all the presidential candidates to identify their positions on Medicare, Social Security, long term care reform, and other issues important to older Americans. The guides include video clips of the candidates speaking on each of these issues.
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