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President Obama's proposed changes are not what an already-indebted country needs: BestHealthcareRates.com

The team from BestHealthcareRates.com is less than reassured with the presidential reassurances on the far-reaching effects of health care reform during his September 9th talk on the status of healthcare reform. With more than 46.3 million Americans not having medical insurance the need for changes is long overdue, but many of those proposed by Obama are not what an already-indebted country needs.

11 Sep 2009

Care Support of America on overlooked healthcare issues in eldercare and family caregiving

As healthcare reform is being debated in Congress and on Main Street, vital and practical issues in eldercare and family caregiving are being overlooked. Some 30 million U.S. baby boomers are family caregivers for their aging parents, trying to keep their parents safe at home and helping them navigate the complexities of Medicare and manage an advancing illness. If they had their say, most elderly people would prefer to age in their own homes.

11 Sep 2009

PCMA stresses on improving affordability in the health care system

“Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) share the President’s goal of improving affordability as a central tenant to reforming the health care system. Tools pioneered by PBMs – including those which increase the use of generic medicines – have accomplished this goal by lowering costs and expanding access to prescription drugs for consumers and payers.

11 Sep 2009

HHS Secretary to issue new report on the employer-sponsored insurance market

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today will address the University of Chicago’s dialogue on health care reform and education and issue a new report on the employer-sponsored insurance market.

11 Sep 2009

NCOA supports Obama for improving Medicare’s delivery system

NCOA applauds President Obama's call for universal health care. Older Americans with Medicare know first-hand the benefits of universal coverage -- and they should be in the forefront of efforts to secure the same rights for their children and grandchildren.

11 Sep 2009

Universal American allies with Nifty after Fifty

Universal American Corp. is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Nifty after Fifty(“NaF”), a company that operates health and wellness centers focused primarily on the senior community.

11 Sep 2009

Fact checks on Obama's health care speech

Several news organizations offered fact checks of President Obama's health care speech to Congress and the nation.

10 Sep 2009

CBO reports cash shortfall for Social Security; seniors could face benefit cuts

Social Security will face a cash shortfall for the first time in decades next year, according to a little noticed report released late last month by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

10 Sep 2009

Payments to Medicare’s private plans at risk in Democrats' reform proposals

As part of their effort to find funds for universal health coverage, Democrats have targeted federal subsidies for Medicare's private plans.

10 Sep 2009

Obama to Congress and the nation: 'I will not accept the status quo'

Shaking off a summer of setbacks, President Barack Obama summoned Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation Wednesday night, declaring the 'time for bickering is over' and the moment has arrived to protect millions who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

10 Sep 2009

SCAN Health Plan receives regulatory approval to expand in Northern California

SCAN Health Plan announced today that it has received regulatory approval to expand its Medicare Advantage Plan into San Francisco, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties, effective January 1, 2010. This is the first entry into Northern California for the not-for-profit plan, which currently serves more than 110,000 Medicare members in California and Arizona.

10 Sep 2009

Free, online self-assessment quiz helps assess health and lifestyle risks for PAD

As recent medical studies continue to highlight the seriousness of peripheral arterial disease (or PAD) and its association with heart attack, stroke and early mortality, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation recommends that older Americans, smokers and diabetics take its free, online self-assessment quiz.

10 Sep 2009

AARP committed to health reform, but seniors remain split

AARP leaders, like Morie Smile, the association's acting director in Colorado, have been asked to help "calm the fury and correct the misinformation that has poured forth this summer and rattled so many senior citizens," the Washington Post reports.

9 Sep 2009

Health care reform should make system efficient for patients and physicians: AMA

"It is clear that the status quo is unacceptable. The AMA will continue to work for reform that makes the system work better for patients and physicians. We must seize this opportunity this year to achieve meaningful health reform for America's patients and physicians.

9 Sep 2009

Nutrisystem D program helps overweight type 2 diabetic people lose weight

Results from a clinical study conducted at the Temple University School of Medicine and published today in the journal Postgraduate Medicine(1), show that a pre-packaged, portion controlled meal plan helped overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes lose significantly more weight and reduce their A1C test scores (a 90-day measure of blood sugar control) by almost a full point greater than those following a standard hospital-based diabetes support and education program, according to the findings.

9 Sep 2009

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield utilize latest media tools to interact with its members

Not just for teens anymore - social networking and media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are being used by adults to interact with their friends, families and to gain information.

8 Sep 2009

MyMedicalRecords PHR offers medical reimbursement for H1N1 affected susbcribers

MMR Information Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (the "Company"), which through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. ("MMR") provides consumer-controlled Personal Health Records ("PHRs") (www.mymedicalrecords.com) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions (www.myesafedepositbox.com), today announced that it has launched a new subscriber Program to reimburse up to $5,000 for remaining medical insurance deductibles, or out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $5,000, for a MyMedicalRecords PHR subscriber family member who has a confirmed case of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

8 Sep 2009

Proposed Medicare cuts worry seniors and nursing homes

As Congress prepares to reconvene next week following an August recess replete with wide-ranging local discussion of how to fund health care reform, new polling finds both seniors and the public at large are strongly opposed to slashing Medicare-funded nursing home care to pay for the plan. Meanwhile, at events in Florida and Pennsylvania - states with large concentrations of Medicare beneficiaries - seniors and caregivers are urging their respective state congressional delegations to help preserve, protect and defend quality nursing home care as the legislative debate resumes Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

5 Sep 2009

New report released to highlight health insurance reform for senior women

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will travel to Maine today and formally release a new report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women (ages 65 and older).

4 Sep 2009

The American Association for Homecare deems OIG report as misleading

In a study released yesterday, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) ignored the substantial costs of services related to providing power wheelchairs, including complex rehab, to seniors and people with disabilities who require mobility assistance.

4 Sep 2009