Southwest

Studies: Older People Want Technology to Help Them Remain at Home
   Older adults want to use technology so they can age safely in their home. Family caregivers agree believing technology can ease some of the challenges of caregiving. Concerns such as cost to install and maintain equipment remain barriers for people 65-plus and for caregivers.
posted 3/28/08 3:37 PM  read complete story

Groups Press CMS on Drug Coverage For Low-Income People
   Nineteen groups that advocate on behalf of people with Medicare are telling the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that the agency's approach to preventing certain Medicare beneficiaries from having to change their Medicare drug plans will not work.
posted 3/6/08 10:24 AM  read complete story

Growing Prevalence of Diabetes Found in Nursing Homes
   One in four nursing home residents over 65 had diabetes and was at an increased risk for conditions affecting their quality of life, according to new research report from the Institute for the Future of Aging Services.
posted 3/5/08 4:12 PM  read complete story

Consumer Fraud, Identity Theft Continue Upward Trend
   In its latest report on consumer fraud and identity theft, the FTC says it received more than 800,000 fraud complaints during calendar year 2007 -- at least 23% of them were reported by people 50-years old and older.
posted 3/4/08 10:28 AM  read complete story

CMS Proposes New Rules for State Medicaid Programs
   Continuing to implement recent legislative changes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formally propose two new rules for redesigning Medicaid.
posted 3/3/08 10:31 AM  read complete story

CMS Identifies $371.5M In Improper Medicare Payments In Three States
   The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says $371.5 million in improper Medicare payments has been collected from or repaid to healthcare providers and suppliers as part of a demonstration program using recovery audit contractors (RACs) in California, Florida and New York in 2007.
posted 2/28/08 3:58 PM  read complete story

Buying Group Formed For Nonprofit Long-Term Care Providers
   MedAssets Inc. and the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging have agreed to align AAHSA's Group Purchasing program with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems.
posted 2/28/08 2:29 PM  read complete story

Survey Finds Boomers Confused About Medicare
   New research from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows many baby boomers -- the first wave of which turns 62 this year -- are confused about their post-retirement health insurance options, including their Medicare eligibility.
posted 2/27/08 2:50 PM  read complete story

Growth In Health Expenditures Seen Steady Through 2017
   Growth in healthcare spending in the United States is projected to be 6.7% in 2007, according to a just-released report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Average annual growth is expected to remain near that rate through 2017.
posted 2/26/08 08:59 AM  read complete story

CBO Uses Medicare in Examining Regional Healthcare Cost
   CBO purposely chose to concentrate on Medicare spending because there are more data available about the cost of providing healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries than there are for other populations. Also, as the largest federal healthcare program, Medicare is highly relevant to and directly influenced by federal policy.
posted 2/19/08 4:36 PM  read complete story