Weekly News, November 14 2008

Posted by Editor on November 14th, 2008 No Comments Printer-Friendly

A round-up of some of the most popular long-term care news headlines for the week of November 14 2008.

Today’s the official day to recognize those who have served their country in the armed forces. But every day should be Veterans Day

The Birmingham News (AL). Nov 11, 2008

Veterans’ groups sue to speed claims

By Bob Deans, Cox News Service. Commercial Appeal. Nov 11, 2008

Two advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court asserting that VA payments of benefits to hundreds of thousand of veterans are delayed for up to four years, leading to “financial crises, homelessness, addiction and suicide,”

Obama calls for Medicaid increase in stimulus package

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Nov 11, 2008

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living yesterday praised President-elect Barack Obama for promoting an economic-stimulus package that includes needed Medicaid funds for states.

Obama urged to overhaul healthcare

By Noam N. Levey. Los Angeles Times. Nov 11, 2008

Coalition launches campaign calling for comprehensive healthcare reform in the new administration’s first 100 days

Providers take stock of nation’s financial woes

John O’Connor. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Nov 11, 2008

“With state budgets across the nation under rising pressure, federal relief is essential to protecting care, preserving key staff and promoting quality,” said AHCA President and CEO, Bruce Yarwood.

Representatives introduce ‘transparency’ bill in House

Liza Berger. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Nov 11, 2008

Insurers hike premiums, cut Medicare benefits

By Patricia Anstett. Detroit Free Press. Nov 11, 2008

“The shake-out is under way currently,” said Nitkin Bhargava, vice president of sales, consumer segment for Aetna Inc. Companies say that the 25 percent average monthly increase in Medicare prescription drug policies comes in response to under-pricing of Medicare policies in the first two years of the program.

Medicare Gives Caregivers Online Answers

By Francesca Lunzer Kritz. Washington Post. Nov 11, 2008 Page HE2

Medicare has introduced a new Web portal specifically for caregivers: http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers. In addition to providing basic information, the site will include a star rating system will include a star rating system for U.S. nursing homes beginning in December.

SD: Report: Nursing home costs to increase up to $177 million

By Mary Garrigan. Rapid City Journal. Nov 11, 2008

Medicaid-funded nursing home care will cost South Dakota an additional $120 million - $177 million over the next 15 years, as the over-65 population doubles, according to a new report to Gov. Mike Rounds and the South Dakota Legislature. However, many of the available beds are not located in the more urban areas that will need them the most. The entire task force report can be found at http://dss.sd.gov/ltctaskforce.asp.

Landscape Evolves for Assisted Suicide

By Jane Gross. New York Times. Nov 11, 2008

By a vote of 59-41, Washington last week became the second state to legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill people.

Sunrise Senior Living falls to all-time low

Associated Press. Forbes. Nov 11, 2008

Retirement Communities Respond to Housing, Market Drops

By Philip Moeller. U.s. News & World Report. Nov 10, 2008 2:31 PM ET

Infections With Drug-Resistant Intestinal Bug Accelerating

By John Lauerman. Bloomberg. Nov 11, 2008

The promise and power of RNA

By Andrew Pollack. New York Times. Nov 10, 2008

Good Survival Rates Found in Heart Surgery for Aged

Associated Press. New York Times. Nov 11, 2008

Aging: A Law Reduces Driving Deaths, but Why?

By Eric Nagourney. New York Times. Nov 11, 2008

Florida law requires drivers over 80 to take vision test with vision problems took steps to correct them to get their licenses.

Baucus adds to calls for health overhaul in ‘09

By Kevin Freking, Associated Press. Nov 12, 2008

Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, today unveiled a health plan blueprint that would require everybody to purchase health insurance and would set up an insurance exchange where people could buy coverage, regardless of pre-existing conditions. “Coverage of all Americans will also make reforms work better, from insurance market reforms to a cost-saving focus on preventive care,” said Baucus. “Those who cannot afford coverage will not be required to purchase it - there will be other options for them.”

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Obama’s transition team said, “President-elect Obama applauds Chairman Baucus’s work to draw attention to the challenges of the health system and looks forward to working closely with the chairman and other congressional leaders, as well as the American public, to make quality, affordable health care a reality for all Americans.”

Google Uses Searches to Track Flu’s Spread

By Miguel Helft. New York Times. Nov 12, 2008

A new early warning system for fast-spreading flu outbreaks has developed as more and more people use the Google search engine to look up flu symptoms and treatments. By tracking these inquiries, Google was able to identify spikes in regional flu outbreaks last season up to two weeks before they were reported by the CDC. Graphs and maps of flu outbreaks are now available at www.google.org/flutrends.

Use of advance directives increases among nursing home residents

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Nov 12, 2008

IN: City’s plan: Rehab apartments

By Brendan O’Shaughnessy. Indianapolis Star. Nov 12, 2008

$29M upgrade would bring Lugar Towers and Barton into the 21^st century

The decision to rehab two high rise buildings with a combined 466 subsidized units, housing seniors and people with disabilities, has stirred controversy in Indianapolis. Stephen Smith, president of the Indiana Health Care Association, arguing that the buildings should be torn down, said, “I have a strong opinion that rehabbing those buildings is shortsighted. I believe the long-term solution is horizontal, not vertical.”

NY: Paterson calls for $5.2 billion in budget cuts

By Danny Hakim. New York Times. Nov 12, 2008 12:09 PM

New York Gov. David A. Paterson today proposed $5.2 billion in budget cuts over the next 16.5 months, with Medicaid and other health care programs taking the hardest hit. The health programs would lose $572 million this year and $1.2 billion next year.

SD: Long-term care crisis foreseen

By Jonathan Ellis. Argus Leader. Nov 12, 2008

Task force: State’s aging population to cause shortage of nursing home beds

Mark Deak, executive director of the South Dakota Health Care Association and a task force member, said there was approximately “a $16.5 million gap last year between state reimbursements and the actual cost for Medicaid-eligible clients in nursing homes.” As a part of the task force, Deak recommends a greater emphasis on personal responsibility for paying for long-term care and the need to purchase long-term care insurance.

Baucus’ healthcare plan would direct funds away from nursing homes

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & AssistedLiving. Nov 13, 2008

Senate Finance chairman calls for legal reforms

By Chris Rizo. Legal Newsline. Nov 12, 2008

Economic Crises Will Take Precedence Over Near-Term Immigration Overhaul

By Joel Millman and June Kronholz. Wall Street Journal. Nov 12, 2008

US trails other nations in chronic illness care

By Will Dunham. Reuters. Nov 13, 2008

Heart Failure Accounts for 37% of Medicare Spending

HealthDay News. The Washington Post. Nov 12, 2008

Campaign to end 2-year insurance gap for disabled

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR. Associated Press. Nov 12, 2008