CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 5
December 2, 2002

MED DIVERSIFIED DECLARES BANKRUPTCY
One of the nation's largest home health-care providers, Med Diversified, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, its cash flow cut off by the bankruptcy of National Century Financial. At least six major healthcare providers have already filed bankruptcy petitions and more are expected to do so.
http://atsh.org/news/med_divers.html

MEDICARE FUNDING ISSUE AWAITS NEW CONGRESS
Physicians, home health care agencies and rural beneficiaries groups will be on the 108th Congress' doorstep when it convenes in January. The last Congress failed to grant relief from Medicare funding cuts and there will be pressure to take action before Jan. 11 2003, when the continuing resolution that funds the government will expire.
http://atsh.org/news/med_funding.html

FRIST PLANS RADICAL SURGERY FOR MEDICARE
As a surgeon, Bill Frist performed high-risk heart-lung transplants. Now a Republican Senator from Tennessee, Frist is planning similarly major surgery on the Medicare system when the next Congress convenes. Frist and the White House envision opening the system to competition and improving the data flow to better monitor outcomes and improve communications among patients, doctors and others.
http://atsh.org/news/frist.html

WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO?
The 108th Congress must deal with a health care system in crisis. Reductions in Medicare funding, demands for prescription drug coverage and provider bankruptcies are just a few of the emergencies requiring attention. What solutions do you favor? Visit our Caregivers' Forums to air your views. http://www.atsh.org/phorum/index.php

SEED MONEY FOR STATE HIGH-RISK POOLS
A new federal program offers seed money to states to encourage them to set up high-risk pools for Americans unable to get health insurance because of poor health. HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the program, which earmarks money for 27 states and the District of Columbia.
http://atsh.org/news/highrisk.html

NEVADA EXPANDS HOME SERVICES
Nevada has just won federal approval for its newly amended home and community-based services waiver, which will provide services to persons of any age who otherwise would require care in a nursing home. Previously, the waiver was limited to people ages 64 and older. Services include home support, personal care, respite care, transportation and home delivered meals.
http://atsh.org/news/nevada_plan.html

CAREGIVERS USA DATABASE PLANS EXPANSION
The elder caregiving section of Caregivers USA will be expanded with more than 30 new subcategories and additional display options over the next few months. The database currently lumps all senior caregiving services into a single category. For a sneak preview of the new categories, see http://www.caregivers-usa.org/tree.html and click on any of the branches to see the new subcategories. The pages are still under construction so please excuse any disarray.

We welcome your suggestions for additional categories and subcategories. Please send your comments to jhood@thoushalthonor.org.

SENIORS: UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU …
… to stop smoking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is launching a pilot program to help seniors stop smoking. Medicare beneficiaries in seven states will be eligible for free smoking-cessation programs. "It is never too late to quit smoking, even if you have smoked heavily for 30 years or more," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.
http://atsh.org/news/nosmoke.html

A CAREGIVER'S HOLIDAY
Caregivers need support, understanding … and time off. Our Caregiver's Holiday Package doesn't provide the time off but we hope it offers the rest. It includes the full two-hour "And Thou Shalt Honor" broadcast on VHS, the companion book and a t-shirt with the ATSH logo. Order now to ensure delivery in time for holiday giving. http://atsh.org/books/

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Caregivers USA news is published by the Thou Shalt Honor Foundation. The editor is James R. Hood, who can be reached at jhood@thoushalthonor.org

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Copyright © 2002, Thou Shalt Honor Foundation