By Steven Reinberg; WebMD ~ Jul 12, 2016
TUESDAY, July 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — More older Americans with chronic health problems are opting to live at home, relying on help from family, paid caregivers or friends, a new study finds.
In 2012, half of seniors with a disability had some type of home health care, an increase from 42 percent in 1998, University of Michigan researchers found.
By Diane Archer; The Huffington Post ~ Jul 12, 2016
The Medicare Trustees’ June 2016 report signals a projected 2017 Medicare Part B premium increase of 20 percent for some people. However, Congress could still intervene this fall to prevent it. Out-of-pocket costs for people with Medicare are already extremely high.
By Lance Roberts; Newsmax ~ Jul 12, 2016
A couple of weeks ago I discussed the importance of understanding the difference between compounded annualized returns and real annualized returns. To wit:
The ‘power of compounding’ only works when you do not lose money. For example, after three straight years of 10 percent returns, a drawdown of just 10 percent cuts the average annual compound growth rate by 50 percent.
From John A. Turner; Forbes ~ Jul 11, 2016
When average Americans confront the complicated problem of how much to save for retirement, they often use so-called “rules of thumb,” or greatly-simplified approaches, to figure out how much to save and how to invest. It turns out that many of the computer programs created to help with retirement income planning do exactly the same thing: use rules of thumb.
By Jonathan J. Cooper; The Associated Press ~ Jul 10, 2016
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Frustrated by the rising cost of prescription drugs, California health advocates hope sunlight and a dose of shame will discourage drugmakers from raising their prices too quickly or introducing new medications at prices that break the bank.
They’re promoting legislation that would require drugmakers to provide advance notice before making big price increases. Pharmaceutical companies have come out in force against the measure, warning it would lead to dangerous drug shortages.
By Constance Gustke; The New York Times ~ Jul 08, 2016
WHEN a “brain fitness” course was introduced at her retirement community, Connie Cole was eager to sign up. After joining, she learned how to use an Apple iPad and work more complex tasks verbally and on paper.
“My father had dementia, so I’ll do anything I can,” said Ms. Cole, 86, a former elementary schoolteacher who also plays Sudoku puzzles every morning. “If I can give my kids anything, it’s to stay away from having it.”
By Catherine Winters; Parade ~ Jul 08, 2016
Getting the most from your doctor’s visit is as much your job as it is your doc’s. With a full caseload of patients to see every day, your primary care provider has, on average, 22 minutes to spend with you. “You know your body best,” says Amber Tully, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “So you have to be your own advocate.”
By Sarah Ferris; The Hill ~ Jun 22, 2016
Medicare’s main trust fund will run dry by 2028, two years earlier than previous estimates, according to a review released Wednesday by the Obama administration.
The Social Security trust fund will run dry by 2034, the same as expected last year.
Both programs, which made up about 40 percent of federal spending in 2015, face major solvency concerns in the next two decades, officials warned Wednesday.
“Medicare faces a substantial, long-term shortfall that needs to be addressed,” Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told reporters.
By Eric Beech & Richard Cowan; Reuters ~ Jun 22, 2016
Washington – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled an alternative plan to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system on Wednesday, slamming Obamacare even as they aimed to keep some of its more popular provisions.
Their proposal, part of broader effort by House Speaker Paul Ryan to offer a Republican agenda ahead of the Nov. 8 elections, is conservatives’ latest bid to “repeal and replace” the 2010 law.
By Matt Vasilogambros; The Atlantic ~ Jun 22, 2016
In what the Justice Department is calling the largest takedown of healthcare fraud in U.S. history, federal authorities on Wednesday brought charges against 301 people for $900 million in false billings.