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Statement regarding the need to eliminate waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid submitted

Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, on behalf of the American Association for Homecare's more than 4,000 member locations serving Medicare beneficiaries in every state in the nation, we appreciate the opportunity to submit this statement to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding the need to eliminate waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.

29 Oct 2009

Lawmakers struggle with how age should influence insurance premiums

Age issues emerge in the health care reform debate as lawmakers struggle with how much young and old people should pay for insurance. Meanwhile, lawmakers and different groups try to woo seniors.

28 Oct 2009

Newspaper investigates dangerous mix of nursing homes and psychotropic drugs

Illinois nursing home patients often receive psychotropic drugs without cause, which poses various health dangers and even death, the Chicago Tribune reports as part of its Compromised Care series.

28 Oct 2009

Conference to caution Congress on the ill effects of pending Medicare cuts to be organized

A new national coalition of small long-term care businesses that provide vital services to the nation's skilled nursing facilities, will join with Maine nursing home providers and frontline caregivers for a Capitol Hill press conference to caution against deep Medicare cuts included in current healthcare reform legislation.

28 Oct 2009

North Dakota congressional delegation praised for recognizing seniors’ care needs as priority in final bill

With North Dakota seniors facing cuts of up to $75 million in their Medicare-funded nursing home care over the next ten years as a result of pending health reform legislation in Congress, North Dakota and national long term care leaders conducted a North Dakota media teleconference today to praise the North Dakota congressional delegation for recognizing the specific concerns of seniors and caregivers, and ensuring the leadership in their respective chambers clearly understand why seniors' care needs must be a priority in a final bill.

28 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 28, 2009

The news of the day again seems to focus on Senate Democrat's public option as well as the politics, strong-arming and vote-counting that it has caused.

28 Oct 2009

Diabetes alerts for seniors from Always Best Care Senior Services

November is National Diabetes Month. And, Michael Newman, president of Always Best Care Senior Services, wants to alert seniors about the risks they face with this insidious disease.

28 Oct 2009

European Patent Office to grant patent for R&D Antibodies’ immunoassays and apparatuses

Research & Diagnostic Antibodies LLC (R&D Antibodies) announced today that it has received a notification stating that the European Patent Office intends to grant a patent for its monoclonal antibody-based immunoassays and apparatuses for measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as a plasma biomarker for the early detection of the sepsis pathology.

28 Oct 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings announces record revenues for its fourth quarter of 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc. today pre-announces record net revenues of approximately $7.7 million for its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009, representing an annualized revenue run rate of over $30.0 million.

28 Oct 2009

Helix Hearing Care Centre and RA Centre host Healthy Aging Day

Helix Hearing Care Centre, The Senior Citizens Council of Ottawa, and the RA Centre hosted a Healthy Aging Day on Monday, where a capacity crowd of golden agers gathered to find out more about healthy hearing.

28 Oct 2009

Tips for affording expensive medication

You've lost your prescription insurance benefits because of unemployment; you don't have the extra money you once did for the co-pay; you have an expensive medication that isn't covered. Unfortunately, this is the current situation for many Americans. Carriann Richey, director of outreach and assistant professor of pharmacy practice for Butler University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, says while affording medications in today's economy may be more difficult than ever before, there are options out there that can help.

28 Oct 2009

House Republicans take aim at AARP

The Wall Street Journal: "Republicans in Congress are taking aim at AARP's financial ties to the health-insurance industry just as the advocacy group is taking a more prominent role supporting an overhaul of the nation's health-care system."

28 Oct 2009

House Democrats continue courting, counting votes for 'robust' public option

The New York Times reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to discuss the public option and health costs with other Democratic leaders. "Ms. Pelosi has been working hard to build support for the most liberal version of a government-run insurance plan, the so-called robust public option, which would generally tie payments to doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to Medicare rates. But so far Ms. Pelosi has been coming up short."

27 Oct 2009

AARP dual role in health reform: Advocate and insurance business

The Washington Post reports on questions raised about AARP's dual role in health reform. It profits from sales of health insurance policies to seniors and is strongly supporting reform legislation. "The nation's preeminent seniors group, AARP, has put the weight of its 40 million members behind health-care reform, saying many of the proposals will lower costs and increase the quality of care for older Americans," according to the Post.

27 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 27, 2009

Based on today's headlines, it's fair to say that -- at least for the Senate -- it's all about Majority Leader Harry Reid's announcement regarding the public option.

27 Oct 2009

Humana Medicare Advantage plans for Senior Citizens Bureau members

Humana and The Senior Citizens Bureau (SCB) are collaborating to offer Humana Medicare Advantage plans to more than 500,000 SCB members.

27 Oct 2009

Failure to fix Medicare doctor payments highlights perennial problem

NPR reports on Senate Democrats' failed attempt to fix Medicare's perennial problem of threatening to cut doctor pay. "Just about every year a formula glitch threatens to cut payments to doctors who treat seniors and the disabled," according to NPR. "And just about every year Congress cancels the cut. This year lawmakers are complaining about the bill because it's not paid for. But, despite what both Republicans and Democrats are claiming, that's nothing new."

26 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 26, 2009

Several Democratic senators voiced optimism on Sunday that Congress would pass a health care bill containing at least the germ of a government-run insurance program. Their expectations were grudgingly seconded by Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008 (The New York Times).

26 Oct 2009

Aerobic activity makes older adults' arteries more elastic

Just three months of physical activity reaps heart health benefits for older adults with type 2 diabetes by improving the elasticity in their arteries - reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, Dr. Kenneth Madden told the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

26 Oct 2009

Pelosi pressing, cajoling Democrats to include public option in final health bill

News outlets covering Capitol Hill report that, with pressure from Democratic leaders, the public option now appears more likely to be in final health care reform legislation.

26 Oct 2009