The Affordable Care Act would not keep healthcare costs down, testified David Foster, chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, before the House Budget Committee.
Foster also said that healthcare costs might actually increase if Medicare cuts to nursing homes, hospitals and home health agencies wind up being politically unpopular, the Associated Press reports. These cuts, Foster said, could push 15% of providers out of the business. Additionally, he said that the healthcare law funnels savings from Medicare to coverage for the uninsured.
White House officials have disputed Foster's analysis throughout the healthcare reform process. His assessment came last week in direct response to President Obama's State of the Union address.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
States expanding Medicare waiver programs to include assisted living
The recession has greatly affected the elderly and those who provide for them. A new AARP report shines some much needed light on how states are changing elder care in response to the recession. Many states are using the economic downturn to restructure funding into lower cost services such as assisted living.
AARP compiled data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in a new report on the recession’s affect on demand and funding for state programs catering to older individuals. The report found that states, in an attempt to balance the budget, have largely cut services relating to seniors, but at the same time demand for these services has grown. The demand for assisted living was one of the fasted growing, increasing in 17 states.
Recognizing the problems at hand, many states are using the economic downturn as an opportunity to restructure funding, such as expanding the assisted living waiver program, allowing more seniors on state aid to take advantage of assisted living communities.
AARP compiled data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in a new report on the recession’s affect on demand and funding for state programs catering to older individuals. The report found that states, in an attempt to balance the budget, have largely cut services relating to seniors, but at the same time demand for these services has grown. The demand for assisted living was one of the fasted growing, increasing in 17 states.
Recognizing the problems at hand, many states are using the economic downturn as an opportunity to restructure funding, such as expanding the assisted living waiver program, allowing more seniors on state aid to take advantage of assisted living communities.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Aging doctors
About eight years ago, at the age of 78, a vascular surgeon in California operated on a woman who then developed a pulmonary embolism. The surgeon did not respond to urgent calls from the nurses, and the woman died.
Even after the hospital reported the doctor to the Medical Board of California, he continued to perform operations for four years until the board finally referred him for a competency assessment at the University of California, San Diego.
“We did a neuropsychological exam, and it was very abnormal,” said Dr. William Norcross, director of the physician assessment program there, who did not identify the surgeon. “This surgeon had visual-spatial abnormalities, could not do fine motor movements, could not retain information, and his verbal I.Q. was much lower than you’d expect.”
Yet “no one knew he had a cognitive deficit, and he did not think he had a problem,” Dr. Norcross continued. The surgeon was asked to surrender his medical license.
One-third of the nation’s physicians are over 65, and that proportion is expected to rise. As doctors in the baby boom generation reach 65, many are under increasing financial pressures that make them reluctant to retire.
Many doctors, of course, retain their skills and sharpness of mind into their 70s and beyond. But physicians are hardly immune to dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other ills of aging. And some experts warn that there are too few safeguards to protect patients against those who should no longer be practicing. “My guess is that John Q. Public thinks there is some fail-safe mechanism to protect him from incompetent physicians,” Dr. Norcross said. “There is not.”
Even after the hospital reported the doctor to the Medical Board of California, he continued to perform operations for four years until the board finally referred him for a competency assessment at the University of California, San Diego.
“We did a neuropsychological exam, and it was very abnormal,” said Dr. William Norcross, director of the physician assessment program there, who did not identify the surgeon. “This surgeon had visual-spatial abnormalities, could not do fine motor movements, could not retain information, and his verbal I.Q. was much lower than you’d expect.”
Yet “no one knew he had a cognitive deficit, and he did not think he had a problem,” Dr. Norcross continued. The surgeon was asked to surrender his medical license.
One-third of the nation’s physicians are over 65, and that proportion is expected to rise. As doctors in the baby boom generation reach 65, many are under increasing financial pressures that make them reluctant to retire.
Many doctors, of course, retain their skills and sharpness of mind into their 70s and beyond. But physicians are hardly immune to dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other ills of aging. And some experts warn that there are too few safeguards to protect patients against those who should no longer be practicing. “My guess is that John Q. Public thinks there is some fail-safe mechanism to protect him from incompetent physicians,” Dr. Norcross said. “There is not.”
Moving an Elderly Loved One
This second article on moving an elderly loved one overs valuable tips and tools to ease the stress of a later life transition.
By KAREN STABINER
A middle-aged son and his mother — she in her late 80s, eager for life but tired of driving and cooking and feeling isolated — find a sun-drenched studio unit in a beautiful, service-laden independent- and assisted-living facility. They’re both thrilled and relieved, until a couple of weeks before move-in day, at which point the mother suddenly balks.
She doesn’t want to move. She so adamantly doesn’t want to move that she stays in her old apartment for a month after the new lease is signed, visiting her eventual home for the occasional meal, taking her time. Read the full article on the NYT New Old Age Blog
By KAREN STABINER
A middle-aged son and his mother — she in her late 80s, eager for life but tired of driving and cooking and feeling isolated — find a sun-drenched studio unit in a beautiful, service-laden independent- and assisted-living facility. They’re both thrilled and relieved, until a couple of weeks before move-in day, at which point the mother suddenly balks.
She doesn’t want to move. She so adamantly doesn’t want to move that she stays in her old apartment for a month after the new lease is signed, visiting her eventual home for the occasional meal, taking her time. Read the full article on the NYT New Old Age Blog
Monday, January 24, 2011
More hospices providing alternative therapies
Approximately 42% of U.S. hospices are offering alternative therapies such as massages or pet therapy, which are considered “complementary and alternative” therapies that don't fall under the rubric of standard care.
Almost 72% of American hospices that offer alternative therapies now offer massages, while 69% provide support group therapy and 62% offer music therapy, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers point out that while these alternative therapies aren't usually covered by insurance, they significantly contribute to the patient's quality of life while calming their anxieties and improving their moods. The CDC study was published in Wednesday's edition of National Health Statistics Report.
Almost 72% of American hospices that offer alternative therapies now offer massages, while 69% provide support group therapy and 62% offer music therapy, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers point out that while these alternative therapies aren't usually covered by insurance, they significantly contribute to the patient's quality of life while calming their anxieties and improving their moods. The CDC study was published in Wednesday's edition of National Health Statistics Report.
Will 2011 be a better year for the reverse mortgage?
Reverse mortgages took it on the chin in 2011. During the year, reverse mortgages volumes have suffered as a result of the continuation of declining home prices, regulatory changes and headline risk associated with high costs and stories where seniors have been taken advantage of as part of the process.
Final numbers released from Reverse Market Insight show that volumes 35% during 2010, with 72,748 units being endorsed in 2010.
The data for 2010 shows a significant drop in active lenders leading to increasing market share and volumes for lenders who have survived during the last few years. Volumes in December show that Wells Fargo remained the top lender by unit volume followed by Bank of America and MetLife rounding out the top 3.
Read full report...
Final numbers released from Reverse Market Insight show that volumes 35% during 2010, with 72,748 units being endorsed in 2010.
The data for 2010 shows a significant drop in active lenders leading to increasing market share and volumes for lenders who have survived during the last few years. Volumes in December show that Wells Fargo remained the top lender by unit volume followed by Bank of America and MetLife rounding out the top 3.
Read full report...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Do I need Medicare Part B?
Need Medicare Part B? If you’re eligible, now is the time to sign up. The general enrollment period for Medicare Part B runs from January 1 through March 31. Before you make a decision about general enrollment, let us fill you in on some general information.
Medicare is a medical insurance program for retired and disabled people. Some people are covered only by one type of Medicare; others opt to pay extra for more coverage. Understanding Medicare can save you money; here are the facts.
There are four parts to Medicare: Parts A, B, C and D. Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and other services. Part B helps pay for doctors' fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical services and supplies not covered by Part A. Part C allows you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. These plans, known as Medicare Advantage Plans, may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C. And Part D is the Medicare Prescription Drug Program.
Most people first become eligible for Medicare at age 65, and there is a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. In 2011, the standard premium is $115.40. Some high-income individuals pay more than the standard premium. Your Part B premium also can be higher if you do not enroll during your initial enrollment period, or when you first become eligible.
There are exceptions to this rule. For example, you can delay your Medicare Part B enrollment without having to pay higher premiums if you are covered under a group health plan based on your own current employment or the current employment of any family member. If this situation applies to you, you can sign up for Medicare Part B without paying higher premiums:
• Any month you are under a group health plan based on your own current employment or the current employment of any family member; or
• Within eight months after your employment or group health plan coverage ends, whichever comes first.
If you are disabled and working (or you have coverage from a working family member), the same rules apply.
Remember: Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B when they become eligible. If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you first become eligible to apply and you don’t fit into one of the above categories, you'll have to wait until the general enrollment period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year. At that time, you may have to pay a higher Medicare Part B premium.
For more information about Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at www.medicare.gov. Or read our publication on Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html.
Medicare is a medical insurance program for retired and disabled people. Some people are covered only by one type of Medicare; others opt to pay extra for more coverage. Understanding Medicare can save you money; here are the facts.
There are four parts to Medicare: Parts A, B, C and D. Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and other services. Part B helps pay for doctors' fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical services and supplies not covered by Part A. Part C allows you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. These plans, known as Medicare Advantage Plans, may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C. And Part D is the Medicare Prescription Drug Program.
Most people first become eligible for Medicare at age 65, and there is a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. In 2011, the standard premium is $115.40. Some high-income individuals pay more than the standard premium. Your Part B premium also can be higher if you do not enroll during your initial enrollment period, or when you first become eligible.
There are exceptions to this rule. For example, you can delay your Medicare Part B enrollment without having to pay higher premiums if you are covered under a group health plan based on your own current employment or the current employment of any family member. If this situation applies to you, you can sign up for Medicare Part B without paying higher premiums:
• Any month you are under a group health plan based on your own current employment or the current employment of any family member; or
• Within eight months after your employment or group health plan coverage ends, whichever comes first.
If you are disabled and working (or you have coverage from a working family member), the same rules apply.
Remember: Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B when they become eligible. If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you first become eligible to apply and you don’t fit into one of the above categories, you'll have to wait until the general enrollment period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year. At that time, you may have to pay a higher Medicare Part B premium.
For more information about Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at www.medicare.gov. Or read our publication on Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html.
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