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First Edition: March 24, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations examine the final week for health law enrollment, the Supreme Court case this week about the law's contraceptive mandate and the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the controversial overhaul.

24 Mar 2014

Formation Capital, Safanad agree to sell $1.05 billion of healthcare buildings to NorthStar Realty Finance

Formation Capital and Safanad Limited today announced that they have entered into an agreement to sell a $1.05 billion healthcare real estate portfolio comprised of 43 primarily private-pay senior housing facilities and 37 skilled nursing facilities (the "Portfolio") to NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.

18 Mar 2014

Incidence of colon cancer in the US is decreasing with increased use of colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer, commonly called colon cancer, is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Research, published today, by the American Cancer Society shows that the incidence of colorectal cancer among adults aged 50 years or more has fallen by 30% in the US over the last 10 years. This is thought to be primarily due to the widespread uptake of colonoscopy screening, which has almost tripled among adults aged 50 to 75 years (19% in 2000; 55% in 2010).

17 Mar 2014

Building muscle mass important in decreasing metabolic risk

New UCLA research suggests that the more muscle mass older Americans have, the less likely they are to die prematurely. The findings add to the growing evidence that overall body composition - and not the widely used body mass index, or BMI - is a better predictor of all-cause mortality.

17 Mar 2014

Research may help develop senior-friendly exercise recommendations for improved physical function

Keeping strong and physically fit is crucial to maintaining independence among the elderly. Exercise has repeatedly been shown to reduce or slow age-related declines in physical function and is a widely recommended for seniors, but the way that older people respond to exercise varies widely.

17 Mar 2014

Incidence of colon cancer have dropped sharply in older adults

Colon cancer incidence rates have dropped 30 percent in the U.S. in the last 10 years among adults 50 and older due to the widespread uptake of colonoscopy, with the largest decrease in people over age 65.

17 Mar 2014

Improving self-esteem provides real health benefits in seniors, says researcher

The importance of boosting self-esteem is normally associated with the trials and tribulations of adolescence. But new research from Concordia University shows that it's even more important for older adults to maintain and improve upon those confidence levels as they enter their twilight years.

13 Mar 2014

Education improves cognitive performance decades after school completion

European populations are growing older on average, a trend that could pose serious challenges to health care, budgets, and economic growth. As a greater proportion of a country's population grows into old age, average cognition levels and national productivity tend to decline, and the incidence of dementia increases.

12 Mar 2014

Teen researcher wins top award from Intel Foundation for research on potential drugs to treat influenza

From new cancer treatments to an exploration of how technology affects the adolescent brain, the innovative research of America's future scientists, engineers and inventors took center stage in the nation's capital today.

12 Mar 2014

Administration reverses course on proposed Medicare drug changes

After advancing a number of changes to the Medicare Part D program earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services withdrew its plan, which had drawn significant opposition from patients, drug companies and lawmakers in both parties.

11 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 11, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is stepping back from proposed changes to the Medicare drug program.

11 Mar 2014

Lawmakers ready minor changes to Obamacare amid bipartisan support

Also on Capitol Hill, doctor groups oppose tying a fix to how Medicare pays them to a repeal of the health law, and Republicans look to use the law -- as well as the law's changes to Medicare -- to their advantage in upcoming elections.

11 Mar 2014

Study examines impact of the elimination of preferred pharmacy networks on Medicare Part D program

A new actuarial study released by The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association examining the impact proposed changes to the Medicare prescription drug program finds that eliminating preferred pharmacy networks in Part D would increase premiums by approximately $63 annually for over 75 percent of Part D enrollees and raise overall program costs by an estimated $24 billion over the next ten years.

10 Mar 2014

Florida could be bellwether state for Obamacare election strategies

Both parties are trying out messages in Tuesday's special election for a House seat. And Charlie Crist, former governor who is running again, is also in the news.

10 Mar 2014

MedScope's new mobile medical alert system now available

MedScope, the leading developer and marketer of high tech medical alert systems, has announced its new two-way communication mobile Personal Emergency Response System (mPERS), that can be used anywhere, is now available.

10 Mar 2014

President Obama's budget: Medicare means testing and lower drug costs

The budget proposal includes a provision to make wealthier seniors in Medicare pay more as well and another to try to drive down the cost of prescription drugs. A rival Republican plan is also expected to propose cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

6 Mar 2014

Poll: Public is split on candidates who backed Obamacare

But support has significantly increased for lawmakers who voted for the law, according to the Washington Post/ABC News poll. Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a potential GOP presidential candidate, tells a constituent worried about Obamacare to "elect a new president," and former White House adviser Ezekiel Emanuel writes in a new book that many of the early problems with the law were "self-inflicted."

6 Mar 2014

Obama's budget eyes provider cuts to save money

The president's proposal would save $402 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years, mostly from lower reimbursements to health care providers and drugmakers.

5 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 5, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about President Barack Obama's 2015 budget as well as the latest state-level Medicaid expansion developments.

5 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Frightening seniors; regulating e-cigarettes; waiting for black lung drugs

The Obama administration's proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage plans - the private insurance plans that cover almost 30 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries - are fair and reasonable. As it happens, they are also mandated by law. Yet Republicans, sensing a campaign issue, are telling older and disabled Americans that the administration is "raiding Medicare Advantage to pay for Obamacare." The health insurance industry, for its part, is warning that enrollees will suffer higher premiums, lower benefits and fewer choices among doctors if the cuts go into force (3/1).

4 Mar 2014