CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 13
February 3, 2003

WHITE HOUSE MEDICARE PLAN IN MELTDOWN?
Democrats in Congress were quick to pronounce the Bush plan to "reform" Medicare as privatization in sheep's clothing. Republicans, frightened by the lack of subsequent clarification from the White House, were soon saying that drug coverage could not be tied exclusively to private HMO-style plans.
http://atsh.org/news/plan.html

DRUG STORES NIX DRUG DISCOUNT PLAN
Chain drug stores have succeeded in blocking the Bush Administration's attempt to launch a drug discount plan for seniors. The drug stores argued that the plan exceeded the government's legal authority under the 1965 law that created Medicare.
http://atsh.org/news/discount_nix.html

CONGRESS HEARS CRY FOR MEDICARE FUNDING
Following furious lobbying, more than two-thirds of the members of the House have signed a letter calling for restoration of Medicare fees cut as a result of 1997 Congressional legislation that balanced the budget. But the White House appears willing to restore fees only for physicians.
http://atsh.org/news/cuts.html

HHS PLAN WOULD MOVE DISABLED FROM INSTITUTIONS
President Bush's budget will include $1.75 billion to move the disabled out of institutions and into the community, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. It's part of a five-year plan to give the disabled more self-determination.
http://atsh.org/news/disability.html

STATES WOULD GET MORE MEDICAID FLEXIBILITY
Another Bush proposal would give states more flexibility in operating their Medicaid programs and would provide $3.25 million in new funding. "The states' budget crises are threatening the progress we've made in expanding health insurance, and at the same time the old Medicaid rules are a straight-jacket, restraining creative new approaches that could preserve coverage and expand it to more Americans in need," Secretary Thompson said.
http://atsh.org/news/medicaid.html

PAYING FOR CHOICE
It's not just basic Medicare that involves difficult cost-benefit decisions. Choosing the right supplemental coverage is far from easy. The Kaiser Family Foundation last week issued a report that shows the financial stakes for Medicare beneficiaries when making choices about supplemental insurance coverage.
http://www.kff.org/content/2003/6060/

FORMER SENATOR FRANK MOSS DIES
Longtime Utah Democrat Frank E. Moss, known as the "father" of the Medicare home health care benefit and a champion of consumer protection died in Salt Lake City Wednesday. He was 91 and served as senior counsel of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.
http://atsh.org/news/moss.html

CHECKING THE CALENDAR ...
Just concluded: NADSA's Ft. Lauderdale conference.
Coming up: Feb. 17-19, Professional Caregiver/Companion Workshop, North Georgia College and University, Dahlonega, GA
http://atsh.org/pros/calendar.html

IN THE FORUMS ...
A recent posting by a woman who says her mother starved to death in a hospital draws both angry and supportive comments from readers.
http://www.thoushalthonor.org/phorum/read.php?f=5&i=38&t=38