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HHS announces grants to help seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers navigate long term care options

Modern Healthcare: As part of the new health law, HHS is distributing $68 million in grants "to help people navigate their health and long-term-care options. The grants will be going to states, territories, tribal and community-based organizations to help seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers make more-informed decisions about their health and long-term care.

29 Sep 2010

Medicare Advantage plans draw attention

The Boston Globe: "Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has notified customers that it will drop its Medicare Advantage health insurance program at the end of the year, forcing 22,000 senior citizens in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to seek alternative supplemental coverage." The reason is that federal reimbursements for such plans have been frozen, and Harvard's particular Advantage product, a private fee-for-service plan, would have to develop a network of contracted providers for the first time under the new rules (Weisman, 9/28).

29 Sep 2010

National survey shows 60% of U.S. adults not familiar with sepsis

Sixty percent of U.S. adults are not familiar with sepsis, despite the fact that more than 200,000 Americans die from it every year, making sepsis one of the leading causes of death in the nation. Lack of awareness is even higher among adults over age 65, who are at greater risk of sepsis, according to a new national survey sponsored by The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, NY, part of the North Shore–LIJ Health System.

28 Sep 2010

AP poll: Americans who think health law should do more outnumber those who think government should stay out of it

As Republicans seek to use the health law as a major talking point to help them win more seats in Congress, a "new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1." The poll found four in 10 adults think the law didn't go far enough to change the system "regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral. On the other side, about one in five say they oppose the law because they think the federal government should not be involved in health care at all."

28 Sep 2010

Democrats tout health reform achievements, GOP lashes back

The Hill reports that as Republicans call for repeal of the law, the Obama administration is quick to push back. Writing Thursday on the White House blog, Stephanie Cutter, the president's communications guru, noted that repealing the reforms would eliminate all the patient protections that just took effect.

27 Sep 2010

GOP 'pledge' to create jobs, control spending, repeal health law draws mixed reaction

The New York Times: "In the legislative blueprint that Republicans hope will serve as a roadmap to winning control of the House, they declared their two highest priorities to be creating jobs and stopping 'out-of-control spending' by the federal government." It includes a call to repeal the health law, while retaining "popular provisions."

24 Sep 2010

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

The Associated Press: "A new analysis of government data finds that premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors. That's according to Avalere Health, a private research firm that crunched the numbers. Marketing for next year's drug plans gets under way Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered through Medicare."

24 Sep 2010

25% of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans

As the annual open enrollment period approaches Medicare Advantage plan enrollment continues to inch upwards, with nearly 11.8 million people enrolled as of August 2010, almost 25% of all Medicare beneficiaries. Despite conservative growth strategies, stricter marketing regulations and legislation which reined in popular Private-Fee-For-Service plans, Medicare Advantage companies are still experiencing single digit growth rates, according to a new report by Mark Farrah Associates, a leading provider of market data and intelligence solutions.

24 Sep 2010

First Edition: September 24, 2010

In today's news, more reports regarding the health reform provisions that took effect yesterday and more details on the GOP's "Pledge To America."

24 Sep 2010

Eastmont Community Center launches new adolescent immunization awareness initiative

Eastmont Community Center responded today to alarmingly low whooping cough and meningococcal meningitis immunization rates among Latino adolescents by launching a new adolescent immunization awareness initiative. The grassroots campaign aims to educate local Latino families about free or low-cost vaccines available to help protect children against these and other infectious diseases.

24 Sep 2010

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the nation's pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide 50 percent discounts on the cost of covered brand-name prescription drugs for beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, starting in 2011.

24 Sep 2010

Today's Opinions: The health law's 'Semi-Versary'

Six months after its enactment, there are two totally different stories to tell about the health-reform law. The public remains split on the law largely along traditional partisan lines

24 Sep 2010

University of Illinois at Chicago receives $12.4M grant to study smoking behaviors in young adults

The University of Illinois at Chicago has received a $12.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the predictors of smoking patterns from adolescence through young adulthood.

23 Sep 2010

People's Care ranks #2140 on Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies

Inc. Magazine included Southern California-based People's Care in its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the country's fastest growing private companies. The list represents a comprehensive look at an important segment of the United States' economy: independent entrepreneurs. People's Care joins other prominent brands on the list, including music website Pandora, 7-Eleven and Radio Flyer.

23 Sep 2010

First Edition: September 22, 2010

Today's headlines focus on news surrounding tomorrow's six-month anniversary of the new health law and some of the specific provisions that will kick in on that day.

22 Sep 2010

How Medicare changes are playing out for advocates and in the campaign season

News outlets track both concerns about how Medicare will fare as a result of the health law's changes and examine how other changes advanced by reform are being characterized during the election season.

22 Sep 2010

Sebelius: Medicare Advantage premium costs to decline slightly in 2011

The Associated Press: "Seniors enrolled in popular private health insurance plans through Medicare will pay a little less on average next year, the Obama administration said Tuesday. The average monthly premium in so-called Medicare Advantage plans will dip to $35.69 in 2011, a 45-cent reduction from $36.14 this year, Medicare officials said."

22 Sep 2010

Rising Medicare premiums and no cost-of-living adjustment can reduce Social Security payments

The combination of rising Medicare premiums and no annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) would reduce Social Security payments for about 23 million of the nation's seniors in 2011, according to The Senior Citizens League. This figure represents two-thirds of the 37 million seniors who receive Social Security benefits.

21 Sep 2010

Senior active skiers have increased oxygen-uptake capacity

Senior active skiers have twice the oxygen-uptake capacity of seniors who do not exercise. This is shown in new research at Mid Sweden University.

21 Sep 2010

HHS provides $101 million as part of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of $101 million in emergency contingency funding to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet their home energy needs.

21 Sep 2010

Seniors News and Research

HHS announces grants to help seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers navigate long term care options

Medicare Advantage plans draw attention

National survey shows 60% of U.S. adults not familiar with sepsis

AP poll: Americans who think health law should do more outnumber those who think government should stay out of it

Democrats tout health reform achievements, GOP lashes back

GOP 'pledge' to create jobs, control spending, repeal health law draws mixed reaction

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

25% of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans

First Edition: September 24, 2010

Eastmont Community Center launches new adolescent immunization awareness initiative

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

Today's Opinions: The health law's 'Semi-Versary'

University of Illinois at Chicago receives $12.4M grant to study smoking behaviors in young adults

People's Care ranks #2140 on Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies

First Edition: September 22, 2010

How Medicare changes are playing out for advocates and in the campaign season

Sebelius: Medicare Advantage premium costs to decline slightly in 2011

Rising Medicare premiums and no cost-of-living adjustment can reduce Social Security payments

Senior active skiers have increased oxygen-uptake capacity

HHS provides $101 million as part of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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