Caribbean Region Stories - Aging News Alert

Assisted Living Facilities Compete in Wii Bowling Tournament

Just because bowling tournaments have moved from the hardwood lanes to the virtual screen -- thanks to Nintendo Wii bowling -- doesn't mean there isn't competition in the air. Avid Wii bowlers from The Lafayette-Redeemer, a Holy Redeemer Independent, assisted living and long-term care facility in Philadelphia, have challenged Wii bowlers from Redeemer Village, a Holy Redeemer independent living community for people age 62+ in nearby Huntingdon Valley.

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Special Open Door Forum: Medicare Part D Reimbursements For Indian Health Service & Tribal Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 5 will host a Special Open Door Forum to discuss Medicare Part D Payments to Indian Health Service (IHS) & Tribal Facilities. CMS staff will present on Medicare Part D plans and beneficiary notices and IHS staff will describe IHS and tribal Part D activities.

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Medicare Quality Reporting Initiative Pays $36 Million-Plus To Docs In 2007

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) says it paid more than $36 million in bonus payments to many of the more than 56,700 health professionals who satisfactorily reported quality information to Medicare under the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

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Congress Overrides Veto of Medicare Improvement Bill

Following President Bush’s veto of the Medicare improvement bill (HR 6331), both chambers of Congress on Tuesday (July 15) voted to override the veto. The House approved the override by a vote of 383 -41, while the Senate voted 70-26.

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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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Incentives Might Persuade Older Workers To Delay Retirement

Employers have a narrow window of up to two years in which they may be able to change retiring workers' decisions by offering them incentives to remain with the company, according to results of a just-released survey by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute.

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CMS Adds Source To Help Determine Coverage For Anti-Cancer Drugs

CMS has provided additional updates to the information it uses in determining which drugs may be covered under Medicare Part B when used to treat patients undergoing cancer treatment through chemotherapy.

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Funds Added To FY09 Labor, Health & Human Services, Education Bill

The FY 2009 Labor, Health & Human Services and Education spending bill is approved Thursday by the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill includes additional funding -- over and above President Bush's proposal -- for nurse training facilities, women's health initiatives and seniors programs, as well as critical investments for the National Institutes of Health ($30.26 billion), the National Institute on Aging ($1 billion) and the National Cancer Institute ($4.96 billion).

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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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Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Older Workers

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that an age anti-discrimination law protects federal employees who faced retaliation after complaining about discrimination.

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