Health Care

Medicare – NIA Funds Centers to Study Demography of Aging

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The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that it has committed more than $36.7 million over the next five years to support and expand its Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging. The Centers form a network of universities and organizations leading innovative studies on the characteristics of the aging population. The awards, which include some support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, renewed support for 11 Centers and established three new ones.

Panel Calls for Reducing Colorectal Cancer Deaths by Striking Down Barriers to Screening

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Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite evidence and guidelines supporting the value of screening for this disease, rates of screening for colorectal cancer are consistently lower than those for other types of cancer, particularly breast and cervical.

Medicare – Lung Disease the Links to Health

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People with a mild form of a common lung condition—even those without symptoms—are at increased risk for heart problems, according to a new study. This is the first report that mild, often-symptomless chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be linked to the heart’s pumping ability

Medicare – Health Benefits of Using Less Salt

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Some countries have reduced their populations’ salt intake by using various strategies, such as regulating the salt content in processed foods, requiring labels on ready-to-eat foods and educating the public. Researchers led by Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo at the University of California, San Francisco, set out to explore the potential impact of a modest reduction in dietary salt on the health of the U.S. population.

Medicare – Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act

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The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, as amended by the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (OCESAA) of 1999, called for the development and implementation of a prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare home health services. The BBA put in place the interim payment system (IPS) until the PPS could be implemented. Effective October 1, 2000, the home health PPS (HH PPS) replaced the IPS for all home health agencies (HHAs).

MEDICARE – CMS LAUNCHES FIFTH ANNUAL MEDICARE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SATISFACTION SURVEY

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the fifth annual health care provider satisfaction survey of the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) contractors that process and pay more than $370 billion in Medicare claims each year.

Medicare – WISCONSIN TO RECEIVE FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD INCENTIVES PROGRAM

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In another key step to further states’ role in developing a robust U.S. health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that Wisconsin’s Medicaid program will receive federal matching funds for state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Wisconsin will receive approximately $1.37 million in federal matching funds.

NEW MEDICARE QUALITY DEMONSTRATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA, INDIANA TO ADDRESS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS

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Two demonstrations comprised of a community-wide health information exchange in Indiana and a consortium of several community care physician networks in North Carolina are being implemented to encourage the delivery of improved quality care to an estimated 130,000 beneficiaries in those states, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Medicare – Help someone save an average of $3,900 on prescription drug costs

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Now, you can help someone you care about apply for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some people with limited resources and income also are eligible for Extra Help to pay for the costs—monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments—related to a Medicare prescription drug plan. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year.