Caregivers USA News

Medicare Review Read our year-long coverage of the Medicare makeover

FDA Wants Couriers, Credit Card Issuers to Betray Prescription Reimporters Companies not eager to rat on Canadian customers.

PBS to Air Alzheimer's Documentary "The Forgetting" documents the problem, offers help and support.

Acting CMS Head Named Dennis G. Smith replaces Thomas Scully, who resigned.

Caregivers Reminded - Take Care of Yourself Caregiving is a significant health risk, HHS reminds families.

HHS Issues Regulations for Drug Discount Cards First action under new Medicare law.

HMOs To Begin To Benefit From New Medicare Law in March HHS wants to encourage HMOs to stay in Medicare.

Thompson Will Resign After 2004 Elections Says he will work in private sector.

Medicare Hospice Benefit Remains Intact New provisions improve access to hospice care.

Health Savings Accounts May Help Offset Costs of Medicare Rx Bill Medical savings accounts opened to millions more Americans under new Medicare bill.

New Hampshire Challenges FDA on Drug Reimportation Other states considering their options.

St. Louis Caregiver Honored Janice O’Malley cares for aging father.

Medicare Bill Missing Some Big Choices No MediGap insurance will be allowed when Rx benefit takes effect.

CMS' Scully Makes a Quick Exit News that Scully was taking job offers while negotiating final bill raises eyebrows.

Congress Passes Medicare Makeover Last-Minute AARP Support Overwhelms Democratic Resistance

The New Medicare: What It Means for Consumers and Caregivers No more "one size fits all."

AARP Looks Towards Boomers in Supporting Medicare Rx Bill Not everyone's happy with AARP's decision.

House Passes Medicare Bill in All-Night Session Kennedy threatens filibuster in Senate.

AARP Weighs In - Supports GOP Medicare Bill Giant organization's decision blindsides Democrats, other seniors' groups.

Seniors Save As Much on Drugs As Insurers, Study Finds Researchers say seniors who pay for their own drugs go out of their way to find bargains.

Self-Directed Care Saves Money, Provides More Care, Study Finds Arkansas Medicaid enrollees got better services using cash and carry plan.

Green House Design Honored "New model of a nursing environment," architects' group says.

HHS Launches National Home Health Quality Initiative Nationwide database provides data on quality of care provided by individual home health agencies.

Medicare Bill "Windfall" For Drug Firms, Researcher Says Bush Administration officials disputed the Boston University study.

Home Health Care Co-Pay Deleted Conferees struggle over details as Medicare prescription bill takes final form.

Medicare Conferees Nearing Agreement But Democratic Senators warn that measure is "at grave risk.

Illinois Will Ask for Permission to Import Canadian Drugs Would save $90 million annually, state study finds.

Study Finds Male Workers Eager to Retire 12-nation study suggests later retirement would keep workers working.

Medicare Deadline Passes - Still No Deal October 17 passed but conferees say they have narrowed their differences on many issues.

Illinois Governor Wants Canadian Drugs Blagojevich launches Web site to put heat on FDA.

Rural Health Care Will Get Big Boost in Final Medicare Bill $25 billion increase over next decade likely.

FDA Approves Alzheimer's Drug Memantine (NAMENDA) first drug approved for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.

HHS Announces Medicare Premium and Deductible Rates for 2004 Part A deductible up $36 from last year.

Congress Looks at Home Care Co-Pay Homebound would pay about $45 for each 60 days of care.

Frist: Protect Retiree Benefits Congress looks at tax incentives to keep retiree drug benefits funded.

Rx for Congress: Take a Deep Breath As Medicare deadline nears, Congress ponders an exit strategy.

Medicare Issues: "Dual Eligibles" and Higher Premiums for the Wealthy

HHS Will Allow "Feeding Assistants" in Nursing Homes Says change will improve care. Consumer groups call it dangerous.

Bush: No Medicare Rx Benefits for Medicaid Recipients President sides with Senate version of bill, opposes position of all 50 governors.

Bush Seeks Oct. 17th Deadline on Medicare Rx Benefit Bill Conference committee has been working since June to reconcile competing measures.

Risks of Private Home Care Services Often Overlooked Consumers unwittingly assume liabilities when hiring independent contractors.

Longer Life Doesn't Always Mean Higher Health Care Costs Researchers find healthy seniors spend less on health care, even over a longer life span.

Medicare Conferees Far from a Finale Increased payments to rural health providers a possible sticking point.

Drug Stores Lobbying Hard for a Lock on Senior Prescriptions Druggists fear benefit management companies will get upper hand.

Central Los Angeles Gets Adult Day Center for Alzheimer's/Demented Elders S. Mark Taper Foundation Adult Day Health Care Center opens Sept. 16.

Kansas City Hosts First Town Hall Meeting on Caregiving Adult children face crisis in caring for parents, participants say.

Seniors Squeeze in More End-of-Summer Medicare Protests Alliance for Retired Americans targets Congressmen during summer break.

Health Insurance Scams Hit Thousands Florida and Texas especially hard hit as working poor seek health coverage.

Enough Flu Vaccine This Year CDC expects immunizations to be readily available in October.

Is U.S. Health Care Three Times Better? Harvard study finds per capita U.S. health care costs are triple Canada's.

Oncologists Protest Funding Cuts Bush Administration wants reduction in spending on outpatient chemotherapy.

Doctors' Group Calls for Single-Payer System But Congress shows next to no interest in a Canadian-style system.

Medicare Bill Does Little for Elderly Near-Poor, Study Finds Average out-of-pocket costs for a couple at 160% of poverty would be reduced only slightly under both the House and Senate bills.

Seniors Protest Medicare Legislation Sens. Kyl, Santorum targeted by Alliance for Retired Americans.

Alzheimer's Demonstration Projects Get HHS Funding Innovative approaches to caregiving funded.

FDA Approves iBOT, Stair-Climbing Wheelchair Computerized device offers new mobility to wheelchair users.

New FDA Regulation Will Speed Generic Drug Approvals Should save consumers billions in prescription drug costs.

Little Progress In Medicare Talks Work grinds to halt as lawmakers start August recess.

Thompson Sees "Substantial Savings" in Rx Costs Seniors without prescription coverage would save half their Rx costs, HHS estimates.

Pharmas Supporting Rx Benefit ... Sort Of Companies happy to sell more drugs but fear price controls.

Union Retirees Group Opposes Both Medicare Rx Bills Both bills "privatize" Medicare, Alliance for Retired Americans argues.

Private Employers Cutting Back Health Benefits to Retirees Finding lends urgency to debate over Medicare drug benefit.

Doctors Sick About Medicare Fees Geriatricians lobbying Congress to moderate fee cuts in Medicare bill.

House Passes Drug Import Bill Dramatic vote as legislators defy party leadership.

Reimportation Would Not Reduce Rx Costs, CBO Finds Study throws cold water on House vote.

LACO Seeks Improvements in Medicare Bills AARP warns it may oppose final bill unless improvements are made.

Critics: Medicare Bills Threaten Universality Both measures do away with principle that same benefits apply to all.

Understanding the Medicare Bills
A primer from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Kansas City's KCPT To Air First Town Hall Meeting on Caregiving August 26 session will be broadcast Sept. 25.

Uninsured Pay More for Drugs, Study Finds "Penalty" for being uninsured as high as 80%, PIRG finds.

GAO Report Finds Serious Problems Persist in Many American Nursing Homes "Shockingly substandard conditions tolerate," watchdog group says.

New York To Require Background Checks For Health Aides FBI checks will be required for home health and nursing home aides.

Study Finds Huge Disparities in Medigap Rates Consumers face significant disparities among Medigap premium rates for identical plans, according to Weiss Ratings, Inc.

Medicare Conferees Begin Negotiations Deep divisions evident as House-Senate panel goes to work.

Agreement on Medicare Drug Benefit Proves Elusive "Third-rail" principle reasserts itself as both parties ponder the consequences of failure ... and success.

Congress Exempts Itself From Rx Bill Current Congressional plan much more generous than proposed Medicare bill.

Seniors' Drug Costs Soaring, Study Finds Prices of 50 most popular drugs increased 6 percent last year; inflation was 1.8 percent.

GAO Finds Oversight of Medicaid Waivers Lacking Many beneficiaries in community care not getting the services they are entitled to, report finds.

Jewish Groups Mobilize to Protect Medicaid Medicaid "one of our most important safety nets," says Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Incentives to Return to Direct Care Study finds many former direct care workers would return to the field if certain conditions were met.

Staffing Crisis in Long-Term Supportive Services AARP study finds unprecedented shortage of frontline workers to provide services to people over 50 with disabilities.

Study Documents Damage to Caregivers' Immune Systems Researchers find stress ages caregivers' immune systems.

Medicare Conferees Face Mounting Pressures Health-care lobbyists, seniors, editorial columnists criticize Medicare reworking.

Gray Wave Washes Over Europe Pension plans, economic and military influence weakened by rising median age.

HHS Awards $60 Million For Health Center Funding Includes funds to help 66 centers expand.

Guidant Signs "Corporate Integrity Agreement" with Justice Department Company hid thousands of cases involving problems with its aortic-aneurysm stent-graft.

New Programs to Assist Caregivers and Older Adults in St. Louis St. Andrew's programs help caregivers find and coordinate services.

Congress Must Decipher Rival Medicare Rx Bills White House pushing for quick resolution but GOP leaders urge caution.

AstraZeneca Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Conspired with doctors to charge Medicare for drugs given to doctors.

HHS Touts Medicare Choice Thompson sends four top doctors on nationwide tour to boost Administration's program.

General Electric, Merrill Lynch, Clarica Insurance Downgraded Weiss Ratings downgrades 54 companies, upgrades 21.

Greenhouse Project Gets Grant for Video Production Video will chronicle development of nursing home alternative.

HHS Approves New York Plan to Expand Medicaid to Working Disabled Provides health care coverage to those who would not otherwise qualify.

Medicare Offers Help for Caregivers Who Work Education kits provided for working caregivers and employers.

P.R. Agency Wins Award for And Thou Shalt Honor Campaign Baltimore agency promoted Maryland Public Television outreach.

Kennedy Angers Allies, Supports GOP Drug Bill Congress set to act on Medicare drug benefit bills this week.

Nasal Mist Flu Vaccine Approved Should free up more traditonal vaccine for older Americans.

HHS Seeks Proposals for Personal Assistant Training Programs Gearing up to meet rising demand as boomers age, says HHS Secretary Thompson.

HHS Announces Grants for Community Health Centers Care offered to patients regardless of their ability to pay

Lipitor Recall Expanded Counterfeit versions of popular drug found in some shipments.

Fed Agents Shut Down Seasilver, Seize Inventory Supposed cure-all not supported by scientific documentation, FTC and FDA charge.

Senate Takes Up Medicare Drug Benefit All sides agree compromise measure has good chance of passage.

Medicaid Reform Talks Break Down Democrats bolt under pressure from critics.

New Rules Will Speed Access to Generic Drugs Consumers should save billions per year.

Consumer Drug Advertising Triples in Recent Years Study finds ads account for 12 percent of increase in drug spending.

Senate Reaches Compromise Plan for Medicare Prescription Benefit Agreement may ease the way for passage of a bill by Congress. The estimated cost of the plan is $400 billion.

PhRMA Prepares Strong Medicine Drug industry ups budget for lobbying.

Edwards Calls For Drug Price Controls Democratic Presidential hopeful outlines extensive program to reduce drug costs.

Damage Caps Don't Prevent Malpractice Premium Increases, Study Finds States with caps had higher increases than states without.

HHS Approves Indiana Plan for Medicaid Beneficiaries with Chronic Diseases Plan allows the state to offer special, targeted services to enrollees with diabetes, chronic heart failure and asthma.

Q-Ray Claims False, Feds Charge Bracelets not proven to cure arthritis pain, FTC alleges in court suit.

First Elders Move into Green Houses Group homes incorporate principles of the Eden Alternative.

Danger of Prescriptions Errors for Seniors Increasing, Study Finds Nearly 8 million errors for 6.3 million seniors last year.

Damage Caps Don't Prevent Malpractice Premium Increases, Study Finds Not enough evidence to support legislation limiting patients' recovery rights.

Lawsuit Over CMS Medicare Appeals Process Settled Medicare refused to cover medication for a form of macular degeneration.

HHS Approves Florida Consumer-Directed Care Plan Over 2,000 expected to use new options.

HHS Grants to Encourage Healthy Aging Community resource centers will provide information on long-term care and healthful living.

Governors, White House Deadlocked on Medicaid Bush wants to allocate specific amounts to each state over the next decade.

Study Finds Room for Improvement in Medicare Savings Programs Eliminating asset test would spur enrollment, Kaiser Family Foundation study concludes.

Need For Long-Term Care Workers to Triple About 6 million workers needed by 2050, report warns.

Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Diabetes in Women More than 9 million American women have the disease and many more are at risk.

Supreme Court Upholds Maine Rx Program Turns aside, at least for now, drug company challenges.

Kerry Would "Dramatically Expand" Health Insurance Access Up to 75% of catastrophic health care costs would be covered.

Frist Pledges to Close Health Care Gap Will introduce series of bills to reduce disparities in health care for minorities.

Senate Approves $350 Billion Tax Cut, Preserving Medicaid, Medicare Funding Negotiations with House likely to last at least until June.

Two Arkansas Coming Home Programs Awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Offers low-income elderly assisted-living opportunity.

Medicare an "Antiquated System" -- Frist Minority leader's comments rankle foes.

Yale Hospital Will Stop Foreclosures Other Issues in Attorney General's Suit Unresolved

U.S. Spends More on Health Care Than Any Other Country But Not Getting More Care "It's the prices, stupid."

Stays in Hospice Settings Longer for Medicare Beneficiaries in HMOs No evidence of inappropriate placements.

Long Island Hospice Leads Conference On Coping With Public Tragedy Sense of vulnerability growing.

Kansas City Hospice Sponsors "Circle of Lights" "Luminaries" help remember those who have died.

Feds Warn Web Sites Selling Supposed SARS Remedies Consumers warned to avoid bogus cures, preventatives.

Medicare Window Closing Fast GOP pressing for passage of Medicare bill in June but Democrats skeptical.

HHS Publishes Home Health Quality Data First data set covers agencies in eight states.

RWJ Study Calls for More Adult Day Centers Nearly three times as many needed to satisfy demand, study finds.

73 Rural Health Programs Get HHS Grants Fist-year grants intended to encourage innovative approaches.

Adult Foster Care Offers Personal, Social and Financial Benefits A small but growing part of the long-term care picture.

Gephardt Proposes Universal Health Care Plan With Iraqi war over, attention turns once again to health care and the economy as Congress returns.

Medicare Begins Weighing Costs in Drug Decisions First step in administering prescription drug plan for elderly.

AstraZeneca Restricting Drug Sales to Canada Follows Glaxo's lead in trying to shut down cross-border drug sales.

Pets Rescued Faster Than Elderly After 9/11 Report calls for better planning to aid elderly and disabled after disasters.

National Donor Memorial Will Honor Organ Donors New safeguards for living donors announced.

HHS Approves Waiver for Louisiana Disability Program Goal is to enable Medicaid beneficiaries to remain in their homes.

72 Health Insurers Upgraded, 11 Downgraded Ratings reflect financial strength of companies.

Weiss Downgrades 11 HMOs SCAN Health Plan of California takes biggest plunge.

Medicare Therapy Caps Sneak Up On Seniors Thirteen percent of American seniors would be affected.

Mikulski Plans Caregiver Tax Credit Bill Maryland Democrat wants to provide $5,000 annually to caregiver families.

Study Finds Self-Direction Improves Consumer Satisfaction Disabled consumers happier, healthier when they choose their own caregivers.

Medicare Restructuring Dead For Another Year Lawmakers in both parties fear political reprisals, turn attention to drug benefit.

Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline Settle Federal Charges Companies will pay $345 million in fines.

Consumer Group Wants HHS to Reinstate Healthy Maine Program Says HHS siding with drug companies against elderly poor.

HHS Launches Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Plan Yearly cost of first and third-leading causes of death exceeds $351 billion.

NCOA's Miriam Charnow Dies Family Friends director, who worked until a few weeks before her death, was 79.

Congress Passes Budget - $400 Billion for Medicare Prescription Coverage Eliminates House attempt to cut spending in Medicaid, other benefit programs.

Medicare Improvements Must Keep Social Insurance Principle, Aging Group Argues National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare warns there's "no evidence" private insurers are stable enough to cover Medicare recipients.

Two More Nursing Home Chains Bankrupt Trade association expresses outrage, says it warned Congress.

Medicare+Choice Trends: Lessons for Medicare Reformers? Costs up, benefits down, Commonwealth Fund study finds.

Insurance Premiums Outpace Costs, Study Finds Consolidation, profit targets big contributors.

British Nursing Home Care Inadequate, Study Finds Patients get too little beneficial medication, too much dangerous medication and not enough care for chronic conditions.

Stroke Caregivers Handbook Available Stroke Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) announces publication of its 42-page handbook, available free at the group's Web site.

House Panel Slams FDA Crackdown on Drug Imports Meanwhile, a seniors group will resume bus trips to Canada.

Severe Budget Cuts Hit California Seniors Hard Sacramento County trying to slash $24 million from already-thin budget.

Medicare Outperforms Private Health Insurance in Containing Spending Study finds Medicare tighter with a dime than you might think.

2004 Medicare Premium Increase May Be Biggest in Decade Physician payments likely to be cut.

Opposition to Medicaid Cuts Growing Sen. Grassley writes to House counterpart opposing cuts.

Seniors in Same Neighborhoods Pay Widely Different Prices for Same Drugs, NYC Study Finds Shopping around still essential.

House Excludes Medicare Cuts $93 billion in Medicaid cuts survive. Negotiations with Senate may begin this week.

FDA Begins Crackdown on Canadian Rx Imports Warns Arkansas pharmacy it is "misleading consumers" about safety of Canadian imports.

Georgia Fines UnumProvident $1 Million Says company looked for "any possible shred of data or excuse" to deny policies.

Assisted Living Workgroup Nears Completion of Senate Report Final report to be presented to Senate in April.

St. Louis Program Honored for Workplace Caregiving Pilot Program Goal is to keep employees working while acting as family caregivers.

Med Data Solutions Shut Down in FTC Settlement Company sold fraudulent work-at-home kits.

Bush Would Limit Medicare Appeals HHS would decide disputes. "More efficient," says Tommy Thompson.

FDA Cracks Down on Canadian Drug Imports Groups vow to continue helping seniors import Canadian drugs.

House Slashes Medicare Rx Funds Tax cut program decimates Medicare.

Study Finds Uninsured Population Quite Diverse The uninsured aren't always who you expect.

Study Highlights Concern About Diverting Resources From Patient Care Litigation costs rising concern for nursing homes.

Lukewarm Reaction to Latest Bush Medicare Plan Doctors, drug companies, insurers, applaud. Most others sit on hands.

Providers "Outraged" by MedPAC Payment Plan Home health care agencies, others would get no Medicare increase next year.

Bush To Float Medicare "Plan B" Seniors in traditional Medicare would get "modest" drug benefit.

Greenspan Warns of "Painful Adjustments" When Boomers Retire Says Congress must act now to avert Medicare, Social Security crisis in 2017.

Governors Agree to Seek More Medicaid Funding Federal government should assume more responsibility for funding Medicaid programs, governors agree.

Congress May Broaden Food Benefits for Seniors Would raise income caps for seniors applying for nutrition assistance.

Manufacturers, Allianz, AIG Downgraded Latest Weiss Ratings downgrade 71 insurance companies.

Governors Seek Medicaid Bail-Out Bush plan to "reform" Medicaid gets mixed reviews as governors meet in Washington.

Long-Term Care Coalition Wants Federal Help for Ailing Medicaid Programs At least $20 billion needed to solve crisis, group says.

HHS Will Rank Home Health Agencies Will help families "make sound choices," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson says.

Ford Settles Van Rollover Suit 15-passenger vans used by many social service agencies are prone to rollover, safety advocates say.

Glaxo Delivers La Dolce Vita Italians investigate bribery of doctors by GlaxoSmithKline.

Court Closes Medplan Canadian telemarketers sold non-existent insurance.

Zoetron Cancer Cure Zapped by FTC Feds target cancer quackery that sends patients to Mexico for "treatment."

Sens. Breaux, Hatch Revive Elder Abuse Bill Measure would set stiff penalties for individuals, institutions abusing seniors.

U.S. & Canadian Consumer Groups Step Up Glaxo Boycott "Glaxo is saying to our patients, 'We don't care,'" group charges.

Families USA Takes Aim at Bush Medicaid Plan White House offering governors "Fool's Gold," group says.

Long-Term Care Coalition Sets Goals Seeks more Medicare, Medicaid for chronic care.

Zeaxanthin Holds Promise in Battle Against AMD Tests on quail find less retinal damage in birds given the supplement.

White House Stymied on Medicare? President's plan fades as Congress takes a pass.

Judge Rejects Bush's Drug Discount Plan Again Drug chains block discounts for seniors.

Congress Hears Cry for Medicare Provider Funds But the White House is reluctant to restore cuts to most providers.

Bush Would Give States More Medicaid Flexibility "Time to modernize Medicaid," HHS secretary says.

Bush Budget Includes Funds to Move Disabled Persons Out of Institutions Includes $2.1 billion in new spending.

Sen. Frank Moss Dies Utah Democrat was "father" of Medicare home health care benefit.

Bush Ties Medicare Drug Benefit to Managed Care Plan will face fierce opposition in Congress and from aging advocates.

Online Service Helps Seniors Find Drug Discounts New NCOA service lists more than 240 drug discount programs.

Kaiser Will Publish Its Treatment Guidelines Gives public rare access to "evidence-based" treatment regimens.

Kaiser Publishes Guide to Handling Health Plan Disputes State-specific information gives consumers detailed guidelines.

New Program Certifies "Financial Gerontologists" Financial planners will be certified to deal with "wealthspan" issues, founders say.

Medicare Commission To Call for Freeze in Some Medicare Payments Home health agencies, nursing homes hardest hit.

GlaxoSmithKline Threatens to Boycott Canada Senior groups, outraged, threaten to boycott Glaxo.

Medicaid Cuts Would Harm States' Economies: Study Families USA documents damage huge cutbacks in Medicaid would cause.

Nursing Home Reform Group Opposes Caps on Malpractice Claims Bush proposal "would allow the suffering of residents to go unpunished," group says.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Maine Rx Case Bush Administration, drug industry arguing against lower prescription rates for elderly.

Unscrupulous Lenders Stalking Elderly & Low-Income Homeowners Be wary of home equity loans from unknown lenders.

Medicare Providing Better Care, Study Finds Still room for improvement.

CMS Taking Applications for Drug Discount Programs HHS proceeding despite legal challenge from drug stores.

Arizona Starts Drug Discount Program $25 annual fee may net discounts up to 20%.

Missouri Helps Seniors Meet Drug Costs State expects to spend $75 million in first year.

CVS Fined $1.1 Million for Prescription Overcharges "Partial-fill" prescriptions at issue.

New Jersey Fines Electric Mobility Maker of Rascal Scooters promises to clean up sales practices.

U.S. Should Target 20 Key Health Care Areas Institute of Medicine Report says changes could "transform the entire health care system."

Aging Boomers May Not Be As Costly As Feared Costs are higher for seniors who die relatively young.

Health Care Tops Congress' Agenda Republicans determined to make progress on prescription coverage, Medicare issues.

Caregivers Database Expands "Family Tree of Elder Caregiving" helps families find the help they need.

Chronic Conditions Consume Half of Health Care Spending 88 percent of prescriptions used to treat chronic conditions, study finds.

Study: Caregivers Sacrifice Health & Income Caregiving taking its toll on an aging population.

St. Louis Caregiver Honored St. Andrew's At-Home Services selects caregiver for "pamper package."

New Hampshire First to Implement "Self-Directed" Care Plan HHS approves waivers that give consumers more control of home- and community-based services.

Consumer-Driven Health Plans May Hold Hidden Dangers Erosion of social contract foreseen.

More Abuse Cases Seen As Elder Population Grows Incidence likely to double by 2025, WHO warns.

Alzheimer's Complicates the Holidays Extra planning can help ensure the holidays are joyful for all.

Canadian Lottery Scam Closed by Court Order Americans seniors bilked by telemarketers.

Retiree Health Care Costs Likely To Rise, Study Finds Even worse news for future retirees.

Health Insurers Contemplate Universal Health Care Number of uninsured may otherwise swamp the system.

Fewer Physicians Seeing Medicaid and Charity Patients Financial pressures to blame, study finds.

Canadian Scam Fleeced U.S. Elders "British Premium Bonds" were anything but.

Med Diversified Declares Bankruptcy Nationwide home healthcare provider imperiled by National Century collapse.

Medicare Funding Issue Awaits New Congress Physicians, home care providers seeking quick relief.

Frist Plans Radical Surgery for Medicare Surgeon-turned-senator hopes to "modernize" Medicare in next session of Congress.

HHS To Fund State High-Risk Pool Start-Ups 27 states and D.C. qualify for seed money.

HHS Approves Nevada Plan that Helps Disabled Live At Home Expected to increase number receiving services at home fivefold.

Pilot Program Will Help Seniors Stop Smoking The seven-state program is aimed at Medicare beneficiaries.

"Better Jobs, Better Care" Program Aims to Improve Long-Term Care Four-year program targets front-line workers.

Study: Doctors Must Better Prepare Patients, Families for Consequences of Alzheimer's One million new cases annually expected by 2050.

Older Women Say Aging Better Than They Expected But older women are very concerned about the availability of prescription drugs.

Mixed Reception for Nursing Home Ratings A start, but more data and more money needed.

FBI Raids National Century Offices Firm's troubles imperil many health care providers.

Suit Charges UnumProvident Wrongly Denies Disability Payments Company ran "disability denial factories," suit alleges.

15-Passenger Vans "Inherently Unsafe" Senior centers, churches, schools should consider using school buses instead, safety experts say.

More Could Benefit From Hospice Care Eighty percent want to die at home; only 25 percent actually do.

50 Million Caregivers Honored National Family Caregivers Month focuses on efforts of family volunteers.

The 2004 Campaign Just Began GOP readies health care, prescription drug proposals.

Grassley on Caregiving GOP's point man on health care talks about caregiving.

Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Rises in Fall Elderly often at risk.

Slip and Fall Accidents No Joke Study finds 13 million injuries per year.

Medicare Crisis Worsens; Congress Adjourns Medicare payments to doctors, home health care agencies set to decrease.