South Region Stories - Aging News Alert

Retirement Research Foundation Funds Community Programs Helping Seniors

The foundation supports services, education, research and advocacy projects aimed at improving the quality of life for older people. The ultimate goal for proposed programs must be to change practice, policy and delivery systems.

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(FUNDRAISING) Piedmont Agency's Christmas Festival Benefits Meals on Wheels

"We've had $100,000 worth of cutbacks, but we're proud to say that we haven't had to cut anyone from the [Meals on Wheels] program. And that's because of fundraisers like this," says Piedmont AAA Director of Resource Development Tracey Marcengill.

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(PROGRAMS) Georgia AAA Strengthening Relationship With Its Senior Centers

A common challenge of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) nationwide is how to best bridge the gap between their organization and the senior centers in the communities they serve. The River Valley AAA of Columbus, Georgia, has found a way to address this problem through a program that combines education and networking.

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(BEST OF THE BEST) Atlanta Agency Launches Nation's First Prediabetes Scholarship Program

In this Atlanta-based partnership, the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program is available free of charge to 200 Atlanta-area residents 65 or older who have prediabetes and who are overweight.

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(FRAUD) Miami-Area Nurse Guilty in $25 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

Miami-area resident Farah Maria Perez, a registered nurse, pleaded guilty Wednesday (Aug. 31) for her participation in a $25 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false billings for home health services. Perez, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard in Miami to one co...

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(FRAUD) Radiology Clinic, Former Owners to Pay $3 Million to Resolve Medicare False Claims

The West Palm Beach clinic is alleged to have submitted false claims to Medicare during the period 2000 through 2008 by entering into certain leasing and professional services agreements with referring physicians and physician groups that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.

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(FRAUD) Two Firms Plead Guilty to More Than $200 Million Medicare Fraud

Two Miami-area corporations, American Therapeutic Corporation and Medlink Professional Management Group Inc., have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Miami for a fraud scheme resulting in submission of more than $200 million in bogus claims to Medicare.

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(FLORIDA) Poker for Charity: New Twist on an Old Game

Most of the players' buy-in money was given to children -- in this case, funding need-based scholarships for kids at a local day care and special-needs summer camp. But the concept just as easily applies to fundraising for seniors-related needs, too. Call it poker with a conscience.

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(ENRICHMENT) Senior Living Provider Launches Virtual 'Trip' Around The World

Residents of Brookdale Senior Living communities will this year embark on a trans-continental journey with an itinerary boasting an African safari and a stop at the Great Wall of China, all without having to worry about passports or full-body scans.

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(LANDMARK DECISION) Pritikin Center Programs Approved by CMS for Medicare Coverage

In a groundbreaking decision, Medicare will pay for lifestyle education programs offered by Miami-based Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa for qualifying individuals with a history or risk of cardiovascular events, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has disclosed. The decision makes the Pritikin Center the first and only residential healthy-lifestyle education program in the country to offer Medicare-covered intensive cardiac rehabilitation, or ICR.

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