By Grace Dobush; The Christian Science Monitor ~ Nov 21, 2016
November 21, 2016 —Social Security numbers may be the worst kept secrets in America.
But the originators of the individualized codes first distributed in 1936 by the Social Security Administration never intended them to become de facto identifiers relied on by hospitals, insurers, banks, cable companies, and even retailers.
By LINDSEY TANNER; The Associated Press ~ Nov 21, 2016
CHICAGO (AP) — New research documents another decline in dementia rates but experts say the rising numbers of older Americans may halt that trend unless better ways are found to keep brains healthy.
The study released Monday shows the rate of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 65 and up dropped to about 9 percent in 2012 from nearly 12 percent in 2000, continuing a decline noted in earlier research.
By Robert Preidt; US News & World Report ~ Nov 21, 2016
MONDAY, Nov. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — High blood pressure and weakened bones are two big health issues for seniors.
Now, new data suggests that one class of drugs might help protect against both.
The study of thousands of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicare patients found that anti-hypertension meds called thiazide diuretics also seemed to lower odds of a patient suffering a hip or pelvic fracture, compared with people on other high blood pressure medications.
By Selena Maranjian; The Motley Fool ~ Nov 19, 2016
When it comes to taxes, it often pays to think ahead. There are, after all, actions you can take throughout the year that can shrink your tax bill come April — such as selling losing stocks to offset taxable capital gains. It can help to cast an eye on upcoming income tax brackets, too, so that you have an idea of what to expect.
From Bruce Y. Lee; Forbes ~ Nov 19, 2016
Imagine going to the Amazon web site, buying an Electronic Spin the Bottle Game for its listed price of $32.92, receiving the product (sparing the arduous effort required to spin the bottle), and then several weeks later receiving an additional bill for $600. As indicated in a recent study, that’s basically what’s happening in heath care…quite frequently. Not spin the bottle but the billing issue.
By Jonnelle Marte ; The Washington Post ~ Nov 16, 2016
The struggles continue for the insurance fund backing millions of multiemployer pension plans, according to a government report released Wednesday.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which insures private pensions, said it is $58.8 billion short of the cash it needs to cover benefits for multiemployer pension funds that are expected to run out of money within 10 years.
By Matthew Perrone; The Associated Press ~ Nov 16, 2016
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’s routine of publicly shaming drug company executives over high prices works no better than a placebo: It may make some people feel better, but it doesn’t treat the problem.
From Arnaud Bernaert; Forbes ~ Nov 16, 2016
Since Donald Trump’s Presidential election win, many are wondering whether Obamacare will survive – or whether it will disappear “on day one” of the new presidency. But future progress in healthcare doesn’t only depend on Obamacare.
By Ashlea Ebeling ; Forbes ~ Nov 15, 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that Medicare Part B premiums for nearly one out of three Medicare recipients will jump 10% next year. It’s less than the 22% projected hike because CMS tapped program reserves to hold down the increase.
By Marilynn Marchione; The Associated Press ~ Nov 15, 2016
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For the first time, a new drug given along with a cholesterol-lowering statin medicine has proved able to shrink plaque that is clogging arteries, potentially giving a way to undo some of the damage of heart disease.
The difference was very small but doctors hope it will grow with longer treatment, and any reversal or stabilization of disease would be a win for patients and a long-sought goal.
