CAREGIVERS USA NEWS
Vol. I, No. 11
January 21, 2003
MEDICARE COMMISSION WANTS TO FREEZE MOST PAYMENTS
Home health care agencies and nursing homes will not receive any increase in Medicare payments if the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has its way. The influential body's preliminary report to Congress says agencies must improve their productivity - and it rejects the notion that Medicare should help make up for plummeting state Medicaid budgets. The report gives Congress ammunition it can use to fend off the pleas of health care providers.
http://www.atsh.org/news/med_commis.html
MEDICAID CUTS IMPERIL STATE ECONOMIES, STUDY FINDS
A Families USA study finds that states which make huge cutbacks in their Medicaid programs are risking serious harm to their economies. States stand to lose an average of 37 jobs for every million dollars cut in the Medicaid program in 2003. Such job losses would vary considerably from state to state - with Mississippi losing 72 jobs for each million-dollar cut while Delaware would lose 17 jobs, the study found.
http://atsh.org/news/medicaid_cuts.html
SHOWDOWN AT THE BORDER: GLAXO, SENIORS SQUARE OFF
Perturbed at the growing numbers of Americans who import prescription drugs from Canada, GlaxoSmithKline says it may cut off Canadian suppliers who don't block sales to the U.S. Outraged seniors and consumer groups said they would organize a boycott of Glaxo. A New York group said it would seek to have the company "blacklisted" from Medicaid and other public programs.
http://atsh.org/news/glaxo.html
SUPREME COURT HEARS MAINE CASE TOMORROW
The drug industry and the Bush Administration will argue before the Supreme Court that the state of Maine's attempt to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors and the uninsured is unconstitutional. The Maine Council of Senior Citizens and other consumer groups won passage of the measure in 2000.
http://www.atsh.org/news/scotus_maine.html
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MALPRACTICE CAPS PROVIDE "IMMUNITY FOR ABUSE," NURSING HOME REFORM GROUP ARGUES
The Bush Administration's plan to cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases endangers nursing home residents, the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform argues. The caps would "give nursing home virtual immunity for the abuse and neglect of residents entrusted to their care," the group said. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging applauded Bush's proposal, saying the threat of litigation raises costs and imperils the quality of care for all.
http://atsh.org/news/reform.html
NEW THIS WEEK: CAREGIVING CALENDAR
It's not easy keeping track of the many regional and national conferences for caregiving professionals. To help the process along, we've added the Caregiving Calendar to the Professionals section of our Web site. Check it often - and let us us know of your group's upcoming events.
http://atsh.org/pros/calendar.html
OTHER NEWS …
-- A study finds the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries has improved.
http://atsh.org/news/medicare_better.html
-- The Federal Trade Commission warns that unscrupulous lenders are stalking the elderly, hoping to snare them into predatory home equity loans.
http://www.atsh.org/news/unscrup.html
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