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Sebelius: Medicare Advantage cuts won't hurt plans

Will the health law curb private Medicare insurance plans, known as Medicare Advantage, or won't it? Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Monday that it won't, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "Ms. Sebelius said the decision by a large Massachusetts insurer to leave the Medicare Advantage market is not a harbinger of the program's decline.

6 Oct 2010

Seniors face new choices with approach of first open enrollment since health overhaul

Provisions of the health overhaul will reshape many aspects of the Medicare program, but in the meantime, have left consumers in a state of confusion.

4 Oct 2010

Health industry funding more Republicans than Dems, anti-reform political activity ramps up

Politico: "A new portrait of the health industry landscape has begun to take shape, with some of those major players shifting their dollars from the very Democrats who passed the law they seemingly endorsed at the White House. The insurance industry, for instance, has consistently donated more to Republicans than to Democrats ever since August 2009."

4 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 4, 2010

In this Kaiser Health News column, Louis Saccoccio, executive director of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, makes a case for including health plans' investments in fraud-fighting activities in the medical loss ratio definition. "While the federal government is investing heavily in anti-fraud efforts, private insurers should be given the incentive to do the same. Only through a cooperative and concentrated effort to root out health care fraud can we effectively protect Americans' quality of health care" (Kaiser Health News).

4 Oct 2010

Sebelius tells seniors that 'outrageous claims' have clouded impressions of new law

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius went to Florida Friday in her campaign to rally support for the new health law. She targeted senior citizens, a crucial voting bloc that polls find is not warming to the bill.

4 Oct 2010

Bloomberg analysis finds 'doughnut hole' deal to cost drugmakers less than 1% of profits

News outlets report how closing the Medicare 'Doughnut Hole' affects drugmakers and seniors.

1 Oct 2010

GSA urges treatment of sepsis as a medical emergency

The Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) is urging healthcare providers, patients and policymakers worldwide to treat sepsis as a medical emergency. "Tens of millions of people die from sepsis each year, making it the likely leading cause of death worldwide. Sepsis kills regardless of age, ethnicity, location and access to care," said Konrad Reinhart, M.D., Chairman of the GSA and director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of the Friedrich Schiller, University of Jena, Germany.

1 Oct 2010

Healthy respect for flu this season

Flu season officially begins Friday, Oct. 1, and unlike last year's season when shortages lead to rationing, there will be plenty of vaccine on hand for everyone who wants a flu shot.

1 Oct 2010

New co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan from Humana and Walmart

Today, Humana Inc. announced an innovative Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, co-branded with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., that can provide significant savings on monthly plan premiums and prescription medicine copayments and cost-shares for Medicare beneficiaries, including seniors and people with disabilities.

1 Oct 2010

First nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program launched

Walgreens has launched the first ongoing, nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program, a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications.

1 Oct 2010

Hundreds of experts including Nobel laureates say Medicare's bidding system for durable medical equipment will fail

Medicare's bidding program for durable medical equipment will fail, say 166 leading experts on auctions and competitive bidding systems.

1 Oct 2010

Volunteers, families in IL, IN, NY, and PA unite to raise money and awareness about pulmonary fibrosis

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) today announced its October schedule of fundraising events as part of its ongoing national campaign to raise funds for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) research, while supporting the PFF's patient education and advocacy efforts throughout the country. The PFF has seen continued expansion of its public support throughout the United States, with more than 40 local and regional fundraisers contributing greatly to the Foundation's total of more than $800,000 in gifts this year.

30 Sep 2010

New online CDSMP program launched to battle against chronic illnesses

Taking the battle against the national epidemic of chronic illnesses to the Internet, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) is making Better Choices, Better Health, the online version of the internationally recognized Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP), available free for people in California and six other states Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon.

30 Sep 2010

State Watch: Health insurance advocate proposed in Penn., Calif. OKs medical parole for incapacitated inmates

A bill that would create a state office of health insurance consumer advocacy, representing consumers interests on any insurance matter before the courts or any state department or agency has been introduced in the state House in hopes of passage before the end of the 2009-2010 legislative session. The bill is aimed at helping consumers navigate the new federal health law

30 Sep 2010

Midlife crisis is hitting Britons earlier: Survey

The latest British research shows that the tmidlife crisis that was once thought to hit people on their fifties is now affecting people in their mid-thirties. The changes in the work culture may be the main reason say researchers.

30 Sep 2010

Campaign fear themes: GOP picks Medicare; Dems take Social Security

"Democrats and Republicans are waging an intense fight for the loyalties of older voters, who turn out reliably in midterm elections and whose fears have been stoked this year by the battle over health care," The Wall Street Journal reports. Republicans are telling the the health law "will cripple Medicare by cutting $500 billion from the program," while Democrats say the GOP plans to "gut Social Security." Seniors rely on one program as the payer for much of their health care, and the other for financial support.

30 Sep 2010

Congress must stop Medicare cuts in November

The AMA, along with medical societies representing 50 states and the District of Columbia and 65 national physician organizations, united to send a strong message to Congress – immediate action is needed to stop the drastic 30 percent Medicare payment cuts looming at the end of this year to protect seniors’ access to health care.

29 Sep 2010

First Edition: September 29, 2010

In today's headlines, reports about the continuing politics surrounding the health overhaul, as both parties vie for the loyalty of older voters and First Lady Michelle Obama steps up efforts to promote the new law.

29 Sep 2010

States urged to implement ACA to end Medicaid's bias towards funding long-term care in institutional settings

In recognition of the six month anniversary of the health reform law, a new report from the National Senior Citizens Law Center, with support from The SCAN Foundation, calls on states to use the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to end Medicaid's long-standing bias toward funding long-term care in institutional settings such as nursing homes.

29 Sep 2010

Florida likely to seek waiver on medical loss ratio; Ariz. cuts back Medicaid benefits

The Hill Healthwatch: "Florida's 14-member insurance advisory board has unanimously passed a resolution to seek a waiver from the health law's medical loss ratio. An official with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation tells The Hill that the board's vote means it's a 'done deal' that the state will formally seek some kind of waiver but the board is gathering public input through Oct. 8.

29 Sep 2010

Seniors News and Research

Sebelius: Medicare Advantage cuts won't hurt plans

Seniors face new choices with approach of first open enrollment since health overhaul

Health industry funding more Republicans than Dems, anti-reform political activity ramps up

First Edition: October 4, 2010

Sebelius tells seniors that 'outrageous claims' have clouded impressions of new law

Bloomberg analysis finds 'doughnut hole' deal to cost drugmakers less than 1% of profits

GSA urges treatment of sepsis as a medical emergency

Healthy respect for flu this season

New co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan from Humana and Walmart

First nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program launched

Hundreds of experts including Nobel laureates say Medicare's bidding system for durable medical equipment will fail

Volunteers, families in IL, IN, NY, and PA unite to raise money and awareness about pulmonary fibrosis

New online CDSMP program launched to battle against chronic illnesses

State Watch: Health insurance advocate proposed in Penn., Calif. OKs medical parole for incapacitated inmates

Midlife crisis is hitting Britons earlier: Survey

Campaign fear themes: GOP picks Medicare; Dems take Social Security

Congress must stop Medicare cuts in November

First Edition: September 29, 2010

States urged to implement ACA to end Medicaid's bias towards funding long-term care in institutional settings

Florida likely to seek waiver on medical loss ratio; Ariz. cuts back Medicaid benefits

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