Home Care News and Research

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New FineThanx phone system gives peace of mind to elderly patients

In a new system, telephone calls twice a day find out how an aging loved one is doing. Then the system reports back the good news or bad.

29 Apr 2010

Costs for long-term care rise while home health care costs remain fairly stable

"Institutional costs for long term care continued to post big increases last year even as the economy sputtered along, according to the seventh annual Cost of Care survey from Genworth Financial, a major seller of long term care insurance. The good news in the survey is that costs for in-home care -- where nearly 80 percent of people prefer being cared for -- have risen very little during the past five years."

29 Apr 2010

Companies providing home care receive large Medicare reimbursements

An analysis of Medicare payments to home health care companies by The Wall Street Journal indicates that some might be taking advantage of the system. According to the analysis, the industry's largest company, Amedisys Inc., "provided many of its patients just enough therapy visits to trigger the extra $2,200 payment.

28 Apr 2010

Experts debate rationing and end-of-life care; Hospice use rises in Colorado

PBS NewsHour reports on end-of-life decisions and rationing by examining a recent debate at the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs. "Arguing for rationing: Ira Byock, a doctor and director of palliative medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

28 Apr 2010

3M first-quarter worldwide sales up 25% to $6.3 billion

3M today reported first-quarter earnings of $1.29 per share on sales of $6.3 billion. Operating income margins were 22.8 percent, up 7 percentage points year-on-year. Sales and per-share earnings increased 24.7 percent and 74.3 percent, respectively, versus the first quarter of 2009.

27 Apr 2010

NHS funding a major issue in the coming election

The state of the British economy has made the cut backs in NHS funding a major issue in the coming election. However no matter what the posturing is right now, and no politician wants to be seen making cuts here, there may be no other viable alternatives. No matter who forms the government after 6th May, they will be under great strain to keep their earlier promises of no health fund cuts.

27 Apr 2010

New health law offers protection against elder abuse, but advocates complain provision is not funded

As baby boomers and their parents age, many stumble across an unsettling surprise — elder abuse that occurs in both institutions and the home. The problem, and the lack of a national strategy to combat it, is something that advocates for the elderly have been complaining about for years. So they fought for, and won, provisions in the new health law (PL 111-148) that are designed to address the issue.

26 Apr 2010

Health care law's ability to control costs will be closely watched

The Associated Press/ABC news explore the question of how of cost containment under the new health law: "What's it going to cost me? That's the single biggest unanswered question about President Barack Obama's new health care overhaul law — and its weak spot. Many experts believe the law falls short on taming costs, and that will force Congress to revisit health care in a few years. … For now, the political parties are too polarized — and lawmakers too exhausted — to contemplate health care 2.0.

26 Apr 2010

Research roundup: Arthritis racial disparities, hospital mortality data, voters on long-term care

Differences In The Prevalence And Impact Of Arthritis Among Racial/Ethnic Groups In The United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2002, 2003, and 2006 - "Blacks and Hispanics were approximately 1.3 times as likely as whites to have activity limitation, 1.8 to 1.9 times as likely to have severe joint pain, and 1.6 to 1.7 times as likely to have work limitation," caused by arthritis.

24 Apr 2010

Georgia investigators increasingly use computer data to catch Medicaid fraud

Georgia investigators "are collecting millions more dollars each year as they catch more Medicaid fraud and mistakes" and they are increasingly relying on computer data analysis as a helpful tool. These cases often uncover unscrupulous medical providers who develop schemes such as overbilling to defraud the state Medicaid program.

24 Apr 2010

FDA provides guidance to help caregivers, patients safely use complex medical devices in home

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a new initiative to ensure that caregivers and patients safely use complex medical devices in the home.

21 Apr 2010

Guardian accreditation confirms that quality out-of-home care costs

Barnardos Australia today becomes the first child welfare agency to be re-accredited under NSW standards as an agency designated to arrange out-of-home care for children and young people. Barnardo's is also the first agency to pilot the new accreditation system, administered by the Children's Guardian, which groups 22 child focused standards into four quality areas.

20 Apr 2010

Today's OpEds: Heritage disputes Obama's claims on health law; Florida nursing home reforms in danger

Think tank analysts usually brim with pride when the president of the United States goes around claiming that his policies are based on their work. But when President Obama tries to sell his health-care law as a moderate approach that borrows ideas developed by the Heritage Foundation, we get incensed (Robert Moffit, 4/19).

19 Apr 2010

Funding cuts to Ontario pharmacists would have devastating effect on patients

Funding cuts to Ontario pharmacists would have a devastating effect on patients, particularly those cared for by independent pharmacists, Janet McCutchon, vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association, told the Economic Club of Canada yesterday.

17 Apr 2010

Federal report details health care quality across states; Online system ranks quality at Illinois hospitals

A Maryland Web site explores how the state ranked in a federal report about health care quality while other news operations look at an online site offered in Illinois that assesses hospitals there.

16 Apr 2010

Partners HealthCare offers $40 million to control health insurance costs in Massachusetts; Neb. Gov. signs new abortion law

Partners HealthCare, whose Boston teaching hospitals have been blamed for helping to drive up medical spending, is offering $40 million toward reducing double-digit health insurance rate increases for small businesses, part of a broader package that will be unveiled today by Senate President Therese Murray.

15 Apr 2010

SCAN Health Plan honors Monarch HealthCare of Orange County with Wave award

Monarch HealthCare of Orange County has been named this year's recipient of SCAN Health Plan's "Wave" award, presented annually to a medical group that combines "high levels of performance or improvement in the field of geriatrics" with a "strong commitment to care for seniors and SCAN members."

13 Apr 2010

Terrible tragedy for Alzheimer's suffering mother and family

In an bizarre situation a 31 year old Australian woman called Rebecca Doig, who gave birth to a healthy girl last week does not even remember giving birth to the child. The little girl called Emily has never been taken into her mother’s arms and it seems never will.

12 Apr 2010

CBOs implement proven HIV/STD risk-reduction intervention with adolescents

An approach designed to reduce HIV/STDs previously used exclusively by academic researchers has successfully been implemented by community-based organizations (CBOs), an important component in national strategies to curtail the spread of HIV, meaning far more "at risk" youths can be reached.

7 Apr 2010

Brazil healthcare market to reach $129.9 billion in 2012

On the road to global economic recovery, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are setting up a new scene. Brazil, in particular, is the 9th economy in the world and is expected to reach the 8th position by 2012. New opportunities set a promising healthcare market perspective with a strong potential for further growth.

7 Apr 2010