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Health insurance issues: State regulators wary of health law, Medicare Advantage star system

News outlets report on changes to the individual health insurance market and Medicare Advantage plans under the new health law.

16 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 15, 2010

Susan Jaffe, writing for Kaiser Health News in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports: "For consumers looking for bargains on refrigerators or restaurants, ratings can be helpful. But a score card doesn't work as well for selecting a Medicare private health plan" (Kaiser Health News).

15 Jun 2010

ActiveCare announces availability of new line of services for aging individuals

ActiveCare Inc. today announced the availability of a new line of services that provide aging individuals and their caregivers many conveniences similar to those offered by in-home care or assisted living, only at the touch of a button and at a fraction of the cost.

15 Jun 2010

Texas prepares for health reform's changes despite opposition to new law; Other states brace for federal funding cuts

When Congress approved the sweeping federal health care overhaul in March, Texas Governor Rick Perry was one of the loudest critics. He blasted the initiative as unconstitutional, a government takeover of health care and an unfunded federal mandate on the states. … That sentiment remains widespread in Texas, which has joined with 20 other states in suing to block the law from taking effect.

15 Jun 2010

Health overhaul skirmishes simmer over government fliers, drug benefits

Republicans are complaining that, while the IRS sent out 4 million fliers to publicize $40 billion in tax credits for small businesses, the agency did not make a similar effort to inform tanning salons and their customers about a new 10 percent tax on their services, Politico reports.

14 Jun 2010

Today's Opinions: Medicare advantage to shrink; Insurers anti-trust protection; Health law regulations; The need for maternity leave

In the long run, there's no getting around the fact that Advantage plans will shrink in generosity and availability (Austin Frakt, 6/14).

14 Jun 2010

President Obama calls on Congress to avert 21% cut in payments to physicians

President Obama called on Congress today to avert a 21 percent cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients in his weekly radio address. He also reiterated his commitment to permanent reform of the Medicare physician payment formula.

14 Jun 2010

AIDS/LifeCycle event raises $10M to support HIV/AIDS services

More than 2,400 participants in AIDS/LifeCycle arrived at the Veterans Center in Los Angeles today after traveling 545 miles from San Francisco over the past seven days in the world's largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraising event. In its ninth year, the event raised $10 million to support the services of San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center that prevent new HIV infections and care for those living with HIV/AIDS.

14 Jun 2010

Scammers use promise of Medicare rebate checks to steal personal info

The Illinois Attorney General is warning that scammers are trying to trick Medicare-eligible seniors into revealing personal information in order to get a rebate check, The Associated Press reports.

11 Jun 2010

Dems to seniors: The Medicare checks are in the mail

The Obama administration began mailing $250 checks Thursday to seniors who hit the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole - a notorious gap in coverage - as part of the health overhaul, The Columbus Dispatch reports. "The tax-free, one-time rebate is the first tangible benefit of the new health-care law and the initial step toward phasing out the coverage gap for Medicare recipients with Part D drug coverage and who do not qualify for additional assistance" (Candisky, 6/11).

11 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 11, 2010

The government is set to begin handing out $25 million in grants Friday aimed at reducing medical malpractice lawsuits, part of a compromise offered by President Barack Obama last year in response to calls for an overhaul of the malpractice system (The Wall Street Journal).

11 Jun 2010

Senate Dems point to Medicare rebate checks to improve health law's image

Lawmakers are focusing on different aspects of Medicare policies as Democrats point to Medicare rebates to woo senior citizens and some Republicans are expressing opposition to a targeted Medicare payment provision related to California physicians and included in the Senate's tax extender bill.

11 Jun 2010

Author Calvin Hill releases new book to share health and life-saving benefits of exercise program

Author Calvin Hill has released his new book Staying Fit after 60: Introducing the Exercise for Life Program to share the health and life-savings benefits of the program he has developed. He puts it bluntly: "I'm telling seniors, you can get old without feeling old."

10 Jun 2010

Caregiver's guide on avoiding life-threatening swallowing problems

That's the message of Drs. Roya Sayadi and Joel Herskowitz. They are a wife-husband team from Natick, Massachusetts, who are spreading the word that swallowing problems are everywhere - and they can be deadly!

10 Jun 2010

AmeriCare to expand into South Carolina

AmeriCare, the leading home-based caregiving franchiser, announced plans for expansion into four cities in South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and North Charleston.

9 Jun 2010

Research shows excessive daytime sleepiness increases depression symptoms among high school seniors

High school seniors with excessive daytime sleepiness have an elevated risk for depression, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas, at SLEEP 2010, the 24th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

9 Jun 2010

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for America's seniors. President Obama held a tele-town hall with seniors in Wheaton, Md. today on the legislation's provisions to strengthen Medicare, close the 'donut hole,' and protect seniors from fraud.

9 Jun 2010

Ontario's Community Pharmacies Coalition reacts to new regulations and vows to fight for patient care

Ontario's Community Pharmacies Coalition are extremely disappointed by yesterday's announcement by Health Minister Deb Matthews and the posting of amendments to regulations under the OBDA and DIDFA as it all but assures that Ontario patients will be less able to freely access the front-line community healthcare they have come to rely on.

9 Jun 2010

In the news: Senate and jobs bill; Obama appeals to seniors; States' Medicaid squeeze; Beyond COBRA

Today's headlines highlights President Obama's planned visit to a senior center to tout health reform, while several columns examine insurance issues, what doctors say about electronic medical record goals and military treatment of traumatic brain injuries is investigated.

9 Jun 2010

Springhill retirement community opens Woodlands Memory Support Neighborhood

Families with loved ones who have memory challenges will breathe a sigh of relief on June 11, when Springhill retirement community opens the doors to the Woodlands Memory Support Neighborhood. A presentation by Springhill Executive Director Jim Schneider and Ed Thomas, CEO of Asbury Communities, the management company for Springhill, will begin at 11:00 a.m. with tours of the new neighborhood to follow.

8 Jun 2010

Seniors News and Research

Health insurance issues: State regulators wary of health law, Medicare Advantage star system

First Edition: June 15, 2010

ActiveCare announces availability of new line of services for aging individuals

Texas prepares for health reform's changes despite opposition to new law; Other states brace for federal funding cuts

Health overhaul skirmishes simmer over government fliers, drug benefits

Today's Opinions: Medicare advantage to shrink; Insurers anti-trust protection; Health law regulations; The need for maternity leave

President Obama calls on Congress to avert 21% cut in payments to physicians

AIDS/LifeCycle event raises $10M to support HIV/AIDS services

Scammers use promise of Medicare rebate checks to steal personal info

Dems to seniors: The Medicare checks are in the mail

First Edition: June 11, 2010

Senate Dems point to Medicare rebate checks to improve health law's image

Author Calvin Hill releases new book to share health and life-saving benefits of exercise program

Caregiver's guide on avoiding life-threatening swallowing problems

AmeriCare to expand into South Carolina

Research shows excessive daytime sleepiness increases depression symptoms among high school seniors

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Ontario's Community Pharmacies Coalition reacts to new regulations and vows to fight for patient care

In the news: Senate and jobs bill; Obama appeals to seniors; States' Medicaid squeeze; Beyond COBRA

Springhill retirement community opens Woodlands Memory Support Neighborhood

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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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