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Today's Opinions: End-of-life counseling; Rising costs of boomers; Controlling infections in hospitals

Death panels. Government-sponsored euthanasia. Pulling the plug on grandma. Those were just some of the blatantly false terms conservatives threw around last year to scare Congress into stripping a provision out of the health-reform bill that would have allowed Medicare to reimburse doctors for providing voluntary, end-of-life counseling to their patients. The scare tactics worked (1/2).

3 Jan 2011

71% of Americans say Baby Boomers should work past normal retirement age

As Baby Boomers begin to turn 65 on January 1, 71 percent of Americans believe they should be encouraged to work past normal retirement age, according to survey conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

28 Dec 2010

Frst wave of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare in 2011

In January, the first wave of baby boomers will start the New Year by reaching a series of significant milestones. This generation will begin turning 65, and as a result of entering into the age of retirement, will start to become eligible for various benefits, including Medicare. It is helpful for this aging population to learn about important benefits programs that may be available to them at this stage in their lives, regardless of whether or not they plan to retire anytime soon.

28 Dec 2010

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Twenty-two percent of all admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2008 were for patients born the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt was first inaugurated President of the United States or earlier, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

24 Dec 2010

Exercise and Vitamin D supplementation most effective in reducing fall among seniors

A systematic review of over 50 clinical trials finds that exercise and Vitamin D supplements are the best ways to reduce the risk of falling in people aged 65 and over. The review is published in the December 21 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and was commissioned by the US Preventive Services Task Force.

22 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: The collective benefits of the new health law; Patient safety; Legalizing marijuana

If President Obama's reform package remains intact, [cancer patient Michelle] Mindlin will be able to shop for potentially more affordable coverage in an insurance "exchange" where companies will be prevented from turning people away because of their medical history. But that doesn't go into effect until 2014. And it might not happen at all if the courts overturn a requirement that nearly everyone buy health insurance (David Lazarus, 12/21).

21 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 21, 2010

Today's headlines reveal the health law challenges presented by the Senate's current deal to fund the federal government and from a antitrust suit in Michigan.

21 Dec 2010

Survey shows 81% of seniors think Congress may not find solution for physician payments for Medicare

An independent survey of 441 seniors 65 years old and up revealed that 81% do not think Congress will find a long-term solution for physician payments for Medicare in 2011. Further, 89% surveyed believe doctors will stop accepting Medicare patients if a planned 23% cut in Medicare reimbursements for physicians services that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2011 is implemented.

21 Dec 2010

Requirements set for grant program to inform seniors about new health law provisions

The CMS has announced new requirements for state health insurance assistance program, or SHIP, grants to help make Medicare beneficiaries aware about certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

20 Dec 2010

RMHC of the Philadelphia Region grants to support programs that aim to improve well-being of children

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, Inc. today announced that more than $269,000 in grants has been awarded to local non-profit organizations throughout 2010. These grants provided support to programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of children throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region.

17 Dec 2010

Antidepressants may have adverse effect on elders when prescribed for the first time

More than half of older Americans who were prescribed antidepressants for the first time were already taking a medication that could adversely interact with the antidepressant, according to a new study from Thomson Reuters.

17 Dec 2010

President signs one-year 'pay-fix'; Medicare tests competitive bidding for common medical equipment

The Kansas City Star reports on a new Medicare program that will apply competitive bidding to common medical equipment and supplies. Meanwhile, President Obama signed into law yesterday a one-year delay in Medicare payment cuts for physicians.

17 Dec 2010

Iowa moves forward on health exchange; Texas medical school highlights geriatrics; Concerns grow about prisoners' mental health needs

Republican lawmakers on the state level are largely against the new health reform law—but they aren't against all of the behemoth legislation. Virginia dominated headlines this week when a federal judge ruled the individual mandate to buy insurance unconstitutional on Monday. Much less noticed: the very next day, a task force appointed by Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell recommended that the state implement a health insurance exchange earlier than federal guidelines require (Kliff, 12/16).

17 Dec 2010

Adeona expands and enhances zinc-based product candidate portfolio

Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of innovative medicines for serious central nervous system diseases, announced today that it has acquired access to clinical data supporting a zinc-based therapy for the prevention of infections in the elderly. This acquisition expands and enhances Adeona's zinc-based product candidate portfolio that already includes its proprietary zinc-based tablets for use in the dietary management of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment patients, and age-related macular degeneration.

16 Dec 2010

AMA commends President Obama for commitment to one-year delay of Medicare cut into law

"Today, President Obama signed into law a one-year delay of the looming Medicare physician payment cut that would have hurt seniors' health care. The AMA commends President Obama and bipartisan leaders in the Senate and House for their commitment to a year-long delay of the 25 percent cut. The AMA strongly advocated for this one-year delay to create a stable environment for seniors and their physicians.

16 Dec 2010

State roundup: Minn. to add more adults to Medicaid; Mass. Gov. seeks savings in pensions and health care costs; Ariz. bishop and hospital spar over control

Minnesota can add 95,000 low-income adults to its Medicaid rolls, vastly improving their medical care, at no additional cost to the state, two officials at the state Department of Human Services told legislators Tuesday (Wolfe, 12/15).

16 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: Reviewing judge's ruling on health law's individual mandate

The legal case against it almost certainly will make its way to the Supreme Court before the individual mandate is due to take effect in 2014. But considered in its proper context, it doesn't violate the Constitution (12/15).

15 Dec 2010

CADCA applauds Senators for introducing STOP Act

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) applauds Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), for today introducing the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act Reauthorization, legislation designed to prevent underage drinking.

15 Dec 2010

New study finds health law will aid those close to retirement age

News outlets track how the health law is impacting seniors and older working-age adults.

15 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 14, 2010

Today's headlines detail yesterday's ruling by a federal court judge in Virginia that strikes at a key part of the health law.

14 Dec 2010

Seniors News and Research

Today's Opinions: End-of-life counseling; Rising costs of boomers; Controlling infections in hospitals

71% of Americans say Baby Boomers should work past normal retirement age

Frst wave of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare in 2011

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Exercise and Vitamin D supplementation most effective in reducing fall among seniors

Today's Opinions: The collective benefits of the new health law; Patient safety; Legalizing marijuana

First Edition: December 21, 2010

Survey shows 81% of seniors think Congress may not find solution for physician payments for Medicare

Requirements set for grant program to inform seniors about new health law provisions

RMHC of the Philadelphia Region grants to support programs that aim to improve well-being of children

Antidepressants may have adverse effect on elders when prescribed for the first time

President signs one-year 'pay-fix'; Medicare tests competitive bidding for common medical equipment

Iowa moves forward on health exchange; Texas medical school highlights geriatrics; Concerns grow about prisoners' mental health needs

Adeona expands and enhances zinc-based product candidate portfolio

AMA commends President Obama for commitment to one-year delay of Medicare cut into law

State roundup: Minn. to add more adults to Medicaid; Mass. Gov. seeks savings in pensions and health care costs; Ariz. bishop and hospital spar over control

Today's Opinions: Reviewing judge's ruling on health law's individual mandate

CADCA applauds Senators for introducing STOP Act

New study finds health law will aid those close to retirement age

First Edition: December 14, 2010

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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