Chronic Disease Management Medicare Project – Success or Failure?
The results of a Medicare cost saving project that tried to successfully manage older adults with chronic diseases was, if you’re reading this MSNBC article, a failure. I’ll beg to differ with the...
View ArticleMedicaid Information: What is it? How do I Apply?
What is Medicaid? Medicaid is the federal government’s health insurance program for low income seniors, pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, etc. Seniors have been relying on Medicaid...
View ArticleDownload the CMS Medicare and You 2009 Handbook
Answers to basic Medicare questions can be found in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare and You 2009 Handbook. Each member receives a copy of the handbook when she/he signs up...
View ArticleAmerican Seniors Association (ASA) Join, AARP, Benefits and Insurance
Since I last wrote about the big news between AARP and the American Seniors Association (ASA), I have received numerous emails asking me questions mostly focused on 1) how to join the ASA, 2) how they...
View ArticleDownload the Medicare and You 2010 Medicare Handbook
The federal Department of Health and Human Services has released the 2010 Medicare and You consumer handbook. This is the official government benefit description manual issued to Medicare members. The...
View ArticleMedicaid’s Look-Back Period, Time, Assets and a Long-Term Care Example
(What is Medicaid? How do I apply?) Medicaid recipients, their caregivers, and people that think they may need Medicaid to cover long-term care expenses in the near future should be aware of Medicaid’s...
View ArticleCLASS Act Long-Term Care Insurance in the Healthcare Reform Bill – Good Idea...
As reported on the New York Times site, Ted Kennedy’s CLASS Act made its way into the healthcare reform bill. The CLASS Act sets up a government-run long-term care insurance program, a “public option”...
View ArticleReducing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) in Hospitals and Skilled...
Any medical professional working with seniors in a skilled nursing home setting knows the impact a Healthcare-Associate Infection (HAI) (sometimes call “hospital acquired infection”) can have on a...
View ArticleDownload the CMS Medicare and You 2011 Handbook
The official U.S. government Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare and You 2011 handbook is available for online viewing and downloading. The handbook is the standard Medicare reference...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Donut Hole Days: Medicare Part D Coverage Gap
As we approach the end of the year, many seniors are falling into the infamous “donut hole” or Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap and panicking at the costs. Fortunately, the coverage gap...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Diabetes and Patient Assistance Programs
Diabetes is a serious condition in which the body does not process food properly for energy. It is a condition in which a person’s body either doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use his/her...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Costs for Dementia Care are Rising
How much does dementia care cost? It outpaces heart disease and cancer, two other leading killers, in cost over time. Researchers recently found that dementia patients on Medicare faced far more...
View ArticleNew Reports from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers Summarized
Long-term care for the elderly is a crucial issue. Each year, new data sheds light on the state of care in the United States. The National Study of Long-Term Care Providers reports on trends in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
CMS Pilot Project to Test Improving Health by Connection to Social Services
The Department of Health and Human Services revealed a pilot program with $157 million in funding to test the bridge between clinical care and social services. The program will determine whether...
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 Things You Should Know About Caregiving
Caregiving’s a tough job, but you’re not in it alone. Put these tips and resources in your toolbox. For All Caregivers Prepare Early Even if your family’s healthy, having a plan can ease stress if...
View ArticleMark Your Calendar: Upcoming Events for Professionals
ASA’s Annual Aging in America Conference What: The American Society on Aging (ASA) hosts an annual conference to share knowledge on topics aging professionals face today. Learn about aging and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Medicare and Social Security: Resources To Know
Medicare offers a new interactive map showing geographic disparities in chronic disease among Medicare recipients. This map examines racial and ethnic disparities, as well as geographic, across the...
View ArticleUnderstanding Medicare Webinar – Open Enrollment October 15th
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, so now is the time to refresh your understanding of key components of the Medicare program. The National Information & Referral Center is hosting a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hearing Loss Resources and Options
What’s that? Come again? Speak up! Today we are addressing hearing loss; a common condition affecting many older adults. One out of three seniors between the ages of 65 and 74 struggles with hearing,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Medicare Part B Premiums: Will Yours Be Raised in 2016?
Medicare Part B could raise some premiums in the new year by as much as 52 percent. The hike would be the largest in Medicare’s history. Recipients affected would pay increased monthly premiums, from...
View Article