CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 20
March 24, 2003

HOUSE RESTORES $200 IN MEDICARE FUNDING
Distracted by the war in Iraq, the House Friday voted 215 to 212 to adopt a budget resolution that excludes more than $200 billion in Medicare cuts that were originally approved by the House Budget Committee. The resolution proposes about $93 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years and a one percent across-the-board spending cut for all mandatory programs except Medicare, defense and homeland security. Negotiations with the Senate may begin this week.
atsh.org/news/house.html

FDA BEGINS CRACKDOWN ON CANADIAN DRUG IMPORTS
After ignoring bross-border prescription drug imports for years, the Food and Drug Administration has started clamping down on the procedure. It threatened an Arkansas pharmacy with legal action last week, saying the imports jeopardize public health. The FDA's about-face follows GlaxoSmithKline's move to stop Canadian pharmacies from selling to Americans.
atsh.org/news/fda_rx.html

GEORGIA FINES UNUMPROVIDENT $1 MILLION
The nation's largest issuer of disability insurance is accused of using "any possible shred" to deny claims and cancel policies. Georgia also put the company on probation for two years. Unum's stock price has plummeted and its debt ratings have been revised by A.M. Best and Moody's. The troubled company also faces an investigation by at least two other states and the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a number of individual and class action lawsuits.
atsh.org/news/unum_ga.html

ASSISTED LIVING WORKGROUP READIES REPORT
A broad coalition has been preparing recommended guidelines to promote quality in assisting living facilities. It will present its report to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging April 29. A statement by the coalition says it has reached "significant agreement" after a process marked by "lively debate, consensus and healthy compromise."
atsh.org/news/workgroup.html

PILOT PROGRAM FOR WORKING CAREGIVERS HONORED
A St. Louis pilot program for working caregivers is being honored for tackling "a unique and escalating challenge for American businesses." St. Andrew's At-Home Services' Caring Workplace Program is developing and testing various models for providing employed caregivers with cost-effective eldercare services that allows family caregivers to provide quality care while remaining on the job as productive and committed employees.
atsh.org/news/workplace.html

MED DATA SOLUTIONS SETTLES FEDERAL CHARGES
Family caregivers seeking to work at home are often victimized by fraudulent programs promoted by scam artists. Among the most prevalent in recent years are programs that claim at-home workers can earn a steady income doing medical billing for doctors. Virtually all of these programs are fraudulent and the Federal Trade Commission has shut down several, including Med Data solutions, which agreed to a settlelement of FTC charges last week.
atsh.org/news/med_data.html

TALKING WITH PARENTS
A consumer's guide from the Kaiser Family Foundation helps seniors and their adult children sort through the basic facts about Medicare and the choices seniors make related to health coverage and paying for care. This resource is intended to assist in answering questions on a range of issues, from Medicare eligibility, enrollment and coverage (including supplemental insurance and Medicare managed care), to long-term care options available and ways of paying for prescription drugs. It also includes state-by-state phone numbers and web addresses for resources that can by used to obtain more specific help with questions and concerns.
www.kff.org/content/2003/6068/