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UnitedHealthcare to host educational seminars at Jersey City Medical Center

UnitedHealthcare will host a series of educational seminars at the Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, N.J., to help baby boomers and other Medicare beneficiaries learn more about the Medicare program so they can make confident health care coverage choices.

16 Jul 2012

Research roundup: Medication adherence, performance at community health centers

For people diagnosed with depression, it's important that they adhere to their medication regimen so that they avoid recurrent episodes. But because of Medicare's Part D coverage gap, financially burdened seniors might not take their prescriptions as recommended. This study looked at Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with depression in 2007.

14 Jul 2012

GAO questions legality of Medicare Advantage bonuses

In a 10-page letter sent Wednesday to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Government Accountability Office's general counsel raised questions about the $8.3 billion demonstration program, which Republicans had criticized as a ruse to mask some of the health law's cuts in seniors' benefits.

13 Jul 2012

Nutrisystem announces debut of enhanced weight management plan for people with diabetes

Nutrisystem, a leading provider of weight management products and services, today announced the debut of its enhanced weight management plan for people with diabetes, Nutrisystem D.

12 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 12, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with The Philadelphia Inquirer, reports: Penn is one of a small, but growing number of hospitals taking their advertising campaigns to Facebook, Google and other websites. Fewer than 150 of the nation's 6,000 hospitals use Google and Facebook to market services, estimates Rob Grant, executive vice president of eVariant, a Simsbury, Ct.-based hospital consulting firm.

12 Jul 2012

IOM report: Nation lacks health workers trained to meet seniors' mental health needs

The Institute of Medicine report, released Tuesday, found the continued lack of health care providers will make it difficult to meet the growing demand for mental health services from the nation's growing senior population.

12 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 11, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the scheduled House vote on repealing the health law as well as how stakeholders -- whether it be certain governors or wall street investors -- are responding to the Supreme Court's decision on the Medicaid expansion.

11 Jul 2012

Officials announce 89 more ACOs caring for 1.2 million on Medicare

The addition brings to 154 the total number of ACOs giving care to 2.4 million beneficiaries of Medicare. CMS says the program could save $940 million over four years.

11 Jul 2012

Alzheimer's Association International Conference to be held in Vancouver

Is it estimated that the number of Canadians afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will increase from about 480,600 in 2008 to 1,125,000 by 2038.

11 Jul 2012

Agencies place unqualified, possibly criminal caregivers in homes of vulnerable seniors

If you hire a caregiver from an agency for an elderly family member, you might assume the person had undergone a thorough criminal background check and drug testing, was experienced and trained for the job.

11 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 10, 2012

Today's headlines include findings of a new Washington Post poll indicating Americans remain divided on the health law. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, cracks may be emerging in the Republican's repeal effort.

10 Jul 2012

Humana acquires national chronic-care provider, SeniorBridge

Humana Inc. announced today it has completed its acquisition of SeniorBridge, a national chronic-care provider best known for providing in-home care management and caregiving services for seniors.

9 Jul 2012

Roundup: Feds rank Texas last in health care delivery; Mass. health care costs eat almost 43 percent of state budget

Texas ranked dead last in the federal government's latest report card on the delivery of health services, falling short in areas ranging from acute hospital care to home treatment of the chronically ill. Texas scored 31.61 -- less than half of top-ranked Minnesota's 67.31 -- out of a possible 100 points in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality annual rankings.

7 Jul 2012

Preventing post-operative delirium may improve recovery of cognitive ability in cardiac patients

Older patients undergoing cardiac surgery often experience changes in cognitive function, such as memory problems or an inability to focus, in the days immediately following their operations. While these changes are usually temporary, for unknown reasons, a significant number of cardiac patients will encounter long-term cognitive problems, lasting as long as a year after their surgeries.

5 Jul 2012

Antidepressant use among seniors: Falling through Medicare's doughnut hole?

A new study links the gap in Medicare Part D coverage and cutbacks by seniors in using this and other medications.

4 Jul 2012

State roundup: Bumpy managed care transition in Calif.

A selection of health policy stories from California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

2 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 2, 2012

Today's headlines detail the latest news, developments, analysis and fallout from last week's Supreme Court health law decision.

2 Jul 2012

Rutgers explains significance of Supreme Court upholding the health care law

The Supreme Court upheld the core of President Obama's health care overhaul, ruling that the government can require all Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty.

2 Jul 2012

How the Medicaid ruling is playing in the states

State officials offer views on their newfound options regarding the health law's Medicaid expansion. Also, news outlets report on how many people might become eligible for Medicaid and at what cost.

30 Jun 2012

Senate sends FDA user fee bill to Obama; House GOP putting pressure on AARP

In rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the FDA measure. On the other side of the Capitol, top Republicans delved into whether AARP represented its members' interests when the lobby group for seniors supported the health law.

28 Jun 2012