Story of the Week

Data Show Huge Differences in Hospital Fees for Common Inpatient Services
   There are significant differences in the fees hospitals charge for common inpatient services. Indeed, recent data show massive price variation between hospitals, some of which exist even among hospitals in the same city.
5/22/13 1:27 PM  read complete story

Hospital, Nursing Home Sued for Violating End-of-Life Directive
   A 91-year-old woman was not allowed to die naturally, a desire she had made clear to her daughter and others, when she first learned she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease many years ago.
5/17/13 1:32 PM  read complete story

Hill Briefing on Alzheimer's among Hispanics Produces Troubling Results
   A new study, underwritten by NHCOA, finds that although Latino older adults may be willing to be screened for Alzheimer's, their decision is affected by factors, such as poverty, fear, and language barriers.
5/10/13 10:31 AM  read complete story

'Retirement Time Bomb' Shows Boomers Burdened with Mortgages
   A survey by St. Paul, MN-based Securian Financial Group shows that about half of the retirees (49%) carried debt into retirement. Of those, more than half (55%) carried $25,000 or more. More than one-fifth (21%) held $100,000 or more in debt at retirement.
4/30/13 5:46 PM  read complete story

Program Integrity Changes Likely Coming for Medicare, Medicaid
   A bipartisan report released this past week by five members of the Senate Finance Committee summarizes concerns raised by the healthcare industry, patient advocates, and other stakeholder groups.
4/29/13 12:44 AM  read complete story

Senate Panel Hears Update on Alzheimer's Action Plan
   The Senate Special Committee on Aging, in a hearing Wednesday (April 24), evaluates progress on implementing the country's first-ever National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.
4/24/13 5:10 PM  read complete story

Reid Eying Legislation to Suspend Sequestration Cuts
   Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is poised to fast-track legislation aimed at curbing some $85 billion in sequester cuts remaining for this fiscal year, Capitol Hill sources tell Aging News Alert.
4/24/13 12:04 PM  read complete story

Sequestration: We Said It Wouldn't Hurt That Much -- And We Were Right
   New poll results further underscore the validity of views expressed by CD Publications Editorial Director Jim Rogers in a March 6 commentary titled "A Question of Sequestration Frustration."
4/17/13 1:54 PM  read complete story

Lawmakers Propose Restructuring Medicare, Combining Part A, B Deductibles
   Two House Republicans on the Energy & Commerce health subcommittee are proposing some big changes in the Medicare system, including combining the program's deductibles for hospital and medical care.
4/15/13 01:01 AM  read complete story

Obama's Budget In Line with Public Opinion – Except on Social Security
   Although 87% of Americans also support maintaining or increasing spending on Social Security, the president has proposed modifying the way cost of living is estimated (to the so-called "chained CPI").
4/10/13 1:50 PM  read complete story