Aging News Alert

Indiana

 

Researchers Find Mortality Rates Rising; Reverses Trend

Deaths among white U.S. men and women aged 45-54 rose significantly between 1999 and 2013, according to a new analysis funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This change reverses decades of progress in mortality and was unique to non-Hispanic whites in the United States.

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Midwestern Store Chain Provides Nutrition Grants

The program's goals include: increasing distribution of food to needy people; increasing access to food assistance in local communities; connecting clients utilizing food assistance programs to additional services and improving organizational efficiency to deliver hunger relief services and information.

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Study: Could 80 be the New 40? Maybe – But Only with Exercise

People who exercise on a regular basis up to the age of 80 have the same aerobic capacity as someone half their age, says a new study from Ball State University. The study finds that the long-time athletes in the study -- they ranged in age from 80 to 91 -- are still enjoying vibrant and healthy lives.

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Intergenerational Program Nabs 2013 ‘MindAlert’ Award

This program partners older adults with school-age youth during the school year with the goal of improving brain health.

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Senior Center Pantry Program Benefits Volunteers, Recipients

This program, which has been recognized for its excellence by the National Council on Aging, is comprised of a team of senior volunteers who collect and distribute essential food supplies and household items of necessity to county residents of all ages with a demonstrated need.

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Ball State's Community Center for Vital Aging Shares Recipe for Success

The Community Center for Vital Aging, a project of Ball State University, is marking a decade of providing continuing education programs to older adults. Kathy Segrist, Ph.D, shared the center's recipe for success with attendees at the American Society on Aging's annual conference in Washington, DC.

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(GRANTS) Federal Grant Winner Needs Help Developing Program

The Indiana health information technology task force is seeking project ideas for the $10.3 million federal grant the state Family & Social Services Administration received last March to expand use of health information technology. Ideas submitted by any entity nationwide should address four strategic pillars as required by the federal grant guidance.

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(QUALITY IMPROVEMENT) Demos in North Carolina, Indiana to Address Quality Improvement

Two demonstrations comprised of a community-wide health information exchange in Indiana and a consortium of several community care physician networks in North Carolina are being implemented to encourage the delivery of improved quality care to an estimated 130,000 beneficiaries in those states, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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IG Finds $7.4 Million in Overpayments for Hospital Services in IL, IN, KY, and OH

Of the 303 high-dollar payments that the federal government made to hospitals in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio for inpatient services during calendar years 2004-2006, only 39 were appropriate, says the Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG). The remaining 264 payments included net overpayments totaling more than $7.4 million.

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SAMHSA Awards $12M-Plus In Grants To Meet Older Americans’ Mental Health Needs

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today has awarded 10 grants totaling more than $12 million over three years through the Older Adults Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant Program to help communities meet the special mental health needs of older Americans.

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Can FHA Handle The New Stress?

As federal legislative efforts open up the possibility for more mortgages to be included in Federal Housing Admin., including a wider array of reverse mortgages for 62+ homeowners, concern appears to be growing regarding whether the program can handle the crush.

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Experience Corps Welcomes Five New Cities

The 2008 school year opens with five new Experience Corps programs in four states. The new sites will serve thousands of students in Annapolis, MD; Baltimore County, MD; Beaumont, TX; Evansville, IN; and Revere, MA.

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What Seniors Can Do To Prevent Dangerous Blood Clots

The Surgeon General of the United States has called upon Americans to learn more about deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism -- related problems that now affect between 350,000 and 600,000 Americans each year.

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WI Insurance Regulator Wants Authority Over MA Plan Sponsors

A state insurance regulator and a top official of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services disagree about what authority states should have to regulate Medicare Advantage plans. The discussion occurs during a Sept. 22 session of the annual Medicare Conference of America's Health Insurance Plans.

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CMS: Iowa, Indiana Waivers Expire

In June 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance which addressed Medicare's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) benefit's statutory requirement of a three-day prior hospital stay and the inability of beneficiaries who were evacuated or transferred as a result of the serious flooding in the states of Iowa and Indiana to meet this requirement. This guidance provided temporary emergency coverage of SNF services that are not post-hospital SNF services under our authority in section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act, for those beneficiaries who are evacuated, transferred, or otherwise dislocated as a result of the flooding.

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What Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Should Expect And Do

Each fall, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notify certain individuals, who are receiving "Extra Help" (also called the Low-Income Subsidy or LIS) paying for their Part D drugs, of their status with respect to that benefit for the following year as well as their status with respect to their Part D plan.

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GAO: Attention Needed To Address Undisbursed Balances In Expired Grant Accounts

A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that during calendar year 2006, about $1 billion in undisbursed funding remained in expired grant accounts in the largest civilian payment system for grants -- the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is administered by the Department of Health & Human Services and makes payments for about 70% of grants and for 12 federal entities. Undisbursed funding is funding the federal government has obligated through a grant agreement, but which the grantee has not entirely spent.

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Report Finds Medical Tourism Option Not Just for Wealthy Patients

Heart surgery, hip replacements and rhinoplasty are offered in countries such as India, Costa Rica, Turkey and Thailand for only a half to one-fifth of the cost in the United States. In fact, cross-border travel for major medical procedures has evolved into a global phenomenon, according to Herrick.

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ASA, MetLife Foundation Sponsor MindAlert Awards

            The American Society on Aging and the MetLife Foundation are MindAlert awards of $1,500 each to recognize innovations in mental-fitness programs for older adults. One award will be made to a program in each of the following categor...

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Key Senate, House Members Back Bill To Give Docs Unbiased Info About Rx Drugs

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) are joined by House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in introducing a bill in both chambers to provide doctors with unbiased information on prescription drugs.

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CMS Takes Steps Aimed At Encouraging Greater Patient Safety In Hospitals

CMS is taking several actions to improve the quality of care in hospitals and reduce the number of so-called "never events" -- i.e., preventable medical errors that result in serious consequences for the patient. A final acute care inpatient prospective payment rule that went on display Thursday (July 31) at the Office of the Federal Register for publication Aug. 18, updates Medicare payments to hospitals for FY 2009 and provides additional incentives for hospitals to improve the quality of care provided to people with Medicare.

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Statins May Protect Against Memory Loss

Commonly used cholesterol-fighting drugs called statins may protect against dementia and memory loss, find the authors of a study published in the July 29 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Study Finds Surgical Errors Cost Nearly $1.5 Billion Annually

Potentially preventable medical errors that occur during or after surgery may cost employers nearly $1.5 billion a year, according to new estimates by the Department of Health & Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ). In a just released study, AHRQ researchers Drs. William Encinosa and Fred Hellinger found that insurers paid an additional $28,218 (52% more) and an additional $19,480 (48% more) for surgery patients who experienced acute respiratory failure or post-operative infections, respectively, compared with patients who did not experience either error.

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Levin: Bogus Medicare Payments For DME Unacceptable

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is raising serious questions about the integrity of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' payment policies with respect to durable medical equipment (DME).

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Older Adults at High Risk For Gambling Problems

Research from the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University shows that one in five older adults who enter a casino eventually displays problem gambling behaviors. Problem gambling behaviors include the compulsive need to bet more and more money, and lying to others about the amount of time and money spent on gambling.

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Advances In Science Predict 'Longevity Dividend' Of Economic, Social Benefits

Acknowledging increases in life expectancy and unprecedented aging of populations worldwide, experts from the United States and United Kingdom make the case for a new model of health promotion aimed at slowing aging in humans.

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AHA Foundation Accepting LOIs For Macular Degeneration Research Program

The American Health Assistance Foundation's Macular Degeneration Research Program supports basic research into the causes and potential treatments of the disease. The program is accepting Letters of Intent for Standard Awards (maximum of $50,000 per year for up to two years, renewable on a competitive basis).

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HHS Moves To Help Medicare Beneficiaries, Providers In Iowa, Indiana

Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana. The action gives HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.

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Investing In Longevity Science To Bolster Seniors' Contributions

With the nation's economy uppermost in many Americans' minds, the Alliance for Aging Research explores the economic benefits from increased investment in longevity science in its most recent podcast series. The podcast series is part of the Alliance's SAGE Crossroads website, a forum that explores emerging issues of human aging and longevity.

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Finalists Named For 2008 Boomer Venture Summit

The competition, which attracted submissions from emerging businesses in the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and Singapore, will be held June 17 at Santa Clara University. The finalists will present their business plans in two sessions, one prior to and one following lunch.

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CMS To Provide Additional Funding For Health Insurance Counseling Programs

CMS plans to distribute an additional $15 million to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs in an effort to help Medicare beneficiaries obtain more information about their healthcare choices.

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Nearly One-Third Of U.S. House Seeks One-Year Delay In Medicare Bidding

Nearly one-third of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are urging a one-year delay in the controversial "competitive bidding" program for home medical equipment in Medicare.

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Report Finds Accurate Revenue Estimates Needed For Retirement Policy

The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (PSCA) and nine other advocacy organizations issued a research report highlighting the need for accurate federal budget scorekeeping estimates for proposed legislative changes affecting retirement savings. The report, Revenue Estimates and Retirement Poli...

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OPM Suspends Portion Of RetireEZ Contract With Government

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has suspended work by Hewitt Associates on its part of the agency's effort to modernize processing of federal employee retirements.

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Hospital's Former Owner Charged In Connection With $64.2 Million Civil Healthcare Fraud

The former owner and chief executive of the bankrupt Edgewater Hospital & Medical Center is facing federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges in Chicago relating to the federal government's efforts to collect a $64.2 million civil healthcare fraud judgment against him.

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NCOA: Congress Should Fund Senior Falls Prevention Act

The National Council on Aging is urging members of Congress to fund the recently enacted "Safety of Seniors Act" (Public Law 110-202), a critical opportunity to decrease falling among older people, which causes nearly two million injuries and 16,000 deaths every year.

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Indiana Retirement Community Looks, Feels More Like Resort

Concierge services, a personal valet, indoor pool-Jacuzzi, day spa, library, and a five-star chef are all perks that will be available to residents of The Stratford at WestClay, a $65 million project with 215 residences developed by the Stratford Companies.

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Farm Bill To Make Wide Rage of Improvements to Nutrition Programs

A new analysis shows that the 2008 Farm Bill would make numerous improvements in domestic food assistance programs to help low-income Americans put food on the table in the face of rising food and fuel prices.

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Study Focuses On Glaucoma Patients With Poor 'Health Literacy'

Glaucoma patients in urban areas who have poor "health literacy" appear to miss more appointments and to have worse disease understanding and greater disease progression than patients with adequate health literacy, find the authors of a new report.

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EPA Updates Information on Climate Change and Older Adults

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently added information about climate change and older adults to its website.

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Conrad Pushes Legislation to Expand Medicare Telehealth Program

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) has introduced legislation aimed at improving the Medicare telehealth program. The proposed Medicare Telehealth Improvement Act of 2008 (S 2812) would expand Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine in several ways.

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Firms Team To Implement Senior Risk Reduction Demo Project

HealthFitness is working with Pfizer Health Solutions as part of a three-year Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration project designed specifically for the senior population.

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Archive of TeleCargiving Workshops Now Available

Family Caregiver Alliance has added a new feature to its website -- an online audio archive of TeleCaregiving workshops.

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Alzheimer's Foundation Offers Grant for Innovative Service

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America has announced that it will be accepting applications for the Brodsky Grant, a $30,000 award to an innovative program or service that improves the lives of those affected by the brain disorder.

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Survey: Aging Americans Lack Critical Facts about Maintaining Eye Health

Most Americans -- especially seniors -- do not know the risks and warning signs of diseases that could blind them if they don't seek timely detection and treatment, according to recent findings of the Survey of Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Eye Health and Disease.

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Bush Signs Stimulus Package

President Bush on Wednesday signed the two-year, $168 billion rescue package passed by Congress last week.

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FDA Approves Drug-Eluting Stent for Clogged Heart Arteries

The Food & Drug Admin. has approved the Endeavor Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent for use in treating patients with narrowed coronary arteries, the blood vessels supplying the heart.

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Advocate: Proposed Cuts Will Harm Hospitals, Help Insurance Industry

The president's proposed cuts in Medicare will ultimately harm seniors, disabled people and anyone who needs hospital care, says the executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

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Nominees for MedCAC Membership Sought

CMS seeks nominations for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC), and requests nominations for both voting and nonvoting members.

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Experts Press NIST to Study Online Identity-Proofing Practices

Validating a Web-savvy senior's identity online can be addressed through a mix of established and emerging techniques to help stimulate the growth of new electronic health services and personal health records

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GAO Finds Flaws in LSC's Grants Management

The Government Accountability Office has found weaknesses in the federally-backed Legal Service Corp.'s internal controls over grants management and oversight of grantees.

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Experts Warn of Needed Policy Changes in Medicare, Social Security

Unless policy changes are made to strengthen Medicare and Social Security, millions of seniors will experience serious declines in their financial and health security, finds the author of a new, groundbreaking study.

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New Issue Brief Examines Medicare Financing

The rapid growth in the nation's healthcare expenditures and overall demographic trends pose a challenge to Medicare's financing in the 21st century.

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Home Medical Equipment Providers Fight Proposed Bid Program

Ohio's Medicaid agency has scheduled a Jan. 9 hearing in Columbus, OH regarding the proposed rule for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) restrictive contracting.

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New Directory of Social Service Grants Now Available

If you're responsible for tracking down private grant funding, a new report from CD Publications is bound to make your job a whole lot easier.

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Profile of First Wave of Boomers Holds Lots of Surprises

"Contrary to what most of us have believed about the baby boomers who came of age in the turbulent 1960s, the group is very much like the 'Silent Generation' that preceded them," says Sandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, which conducted Boomers Ready to Launch, a comprehensive profile of the first baby boomers as they turn 62.

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HHS Approves Medicaid Waiver for Indiana Health Plan

HHS has approved a Medicaid waiver allowing Indiana to implement an innovative healthcare proposal giving approximately 120,000 low-income, uninsured residents access to critical healthcare services.

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Committee Leadership Seeks SBA Intervention to Delay Bidding Program

The chairman and ranking member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee's subcommittee on Investigation & Oversight have sent a letter SBA Administrator Steven Preston asking SBA to "intervene with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to delay implementation of the final rule on competitive bidding for DMEPOS until the Office of Advocacy can sufficiently assess the economic impact of the rule on small businesses."

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Leavitt Warns of Veto if Medicare Bill Calls for Sweeping Changes

HHS Secy. Mike Leavitt warns the Senate Finance Committee that White House advisers will press President Bush to veto Medicare legislation that calls for cuts in Medicare Advantage plans or changes to the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

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AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Offers Scholars Award

The T. Franklin Williams Scholars Award is given to a junior faculty geriatrician (within four years of his/her first faculty appointment) who is conducting research in collaboration with a specialist of internal medicine on a specialty-related health problem common among older patients.

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Global Guide to Age-Friendly Cities

The World Health Organization has developed a new guide aimed at encouraging cities to become more age-friendly so that they can tap the potential of older people.

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