Blog - Page 58 of 77 - Howard Gleckman

New Ways to Think About Long-Term Care Financing

In the past few months, important events and circumstances have highlighted the need for an effective, sustainable way to finance the often-astronomical costs of long-term care services and supports. The growing political and financial pressures on Medicaid--the state/federal program that funds nearly half of all paid long-term care; the deepening problems in the private long-term care insurance market; and the demise of the CLASS Act--the failed attempt to [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-09-24T20:08:16-04:00September 24th, 2012|long term care reform, long-term care financing, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Medicare|2 Comments

How Nursing Homes Can Cut Hospital Readmissions

Too many people make the dangerous roundtrip from hospital to nursing facility and back again. These transfers may increase risks of delirium, medication errors, falls, and infection. There is no doubt that some patients die as a result of these transfers. And, they cost payers—Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance—hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The real tragedy: By some [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-09-12T14:21:31-04:00September 12th, 2012|Health Care, Hospitals, nursing homes|1 Comment

Clinton: What Medicaid Cuts Mean for the Elderly and Disabled

Thank you, Bill Clinton, for reminding us that long-term care is a big part of Medicaid. In his Democratic convention speech this week, Clinton bungled a few of the details, but told a larger truth: Big cuts in Medicaid are likely to mean lost benefits for the frail elderly and younger people with disabilities. No other major speaker at either convention ever mentioned [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-09-07T14:37:53-04:00September 7th, 2012|Campaign 2012, Medicaid|6 Comments

What the Ongoing Battle over Medicare’s Observation Stays Means for Seniors

While many seniors and their families may not be aware of it, consumer groups, hospitals, and nursing homes are fighting a major battle with Medicare over how the federal program pays for patients who are cared for in a hospital, but not admitted to the hospital. Seniors caught in this regulatory purgatory may have to pay thousands of dollars for [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-09-05T19:48:32-04:00September 5th, 2012|Aging, Hospitals, Medicare, nursing homes|1 Comment

What’s Killing the Long-Term Care Insurance Industry

The long-term care insurance industry is in big trouble. Consumers aren't buying. Carriers are dropping out of the market. And those that are staying are raising premiums, cutting discounts, and eliminating products--all of which are discouraging even more consumers from buying. What's gone wrong? The industry has two fundamental problems. A long-standing one--buyers are dropping coverage less often than the industry predicted. And a more [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-08-30T00:08:38-04:00August 30th, 2012|long term care reform, long-term care financing, long-term care insurance|11 Comments

Paul Ryan Would Slash Federal Senior Services

Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's vice-presidential pick, would fundamentally remake federal health and long-term care services for the frail elderly and adults with disabilities. He'd completely restructure Medicare, slash funding for Medicaid, and likely abolish most of the other safety net programs that this vulnerable population has come rely on over the last half-century. It is fair to say that no major party candidate for [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-08-13T14:44:19-04:00August 13th, 2012|Aging, Campaign 2012, Federal senior services programs, Health Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security|3 Comments

Stop Hyping Alzheimer’s Cures, Learn to Care for People Who Have the Disease

You can't escape the seemingly ubiquitous news stories about the latest cure for Alzheimer's. There is only one problem: None of them are true. Some are simply frauds. But many are over-hyped interpretations of serious research. You know the story...In what may be a major breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease... Over at Changingaging.org. Dr. Al Power wrote a terrific blog post [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-08-06T14:59:52-04:00August 6th, 2012|Aging, dementia|9 Comments

Reverse Mortgages Fall Short of Their Potential, Says a New Government Report

Reverse mortgages, which hold great promise as a way for the frail elderly to pay for long-term care costs while living at home, are failing to do the job. Few homeowners ever take out these loans, and those who do, paradoxically, may be putting their financial security in old age at greater risk. According to a new report to Congress [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-07-25T19:46:40-04:00July 25th, 2012|aging in place, long-term care financing|0 Comments

Hill Panel Debates Managing Care for Dual Eligible Seniors

Everybody wants to do a better job coordinating care for the frail elderly and younger adults with disabilities who have extensive medical and personal care needs. But just how to do it is becoming increasingly controversial—especially on Capitol Hill. The current flashpoint is an aggressive new Obama Administration initiative aimed at improving care and cutting costs for those who are [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-07-19T01:12:54-04:00July 19th, 2012|Aging, Care Coordination, Health reform, Medicaid, Medicare|1 Comment

Private Insurers are Betting Big on Managed Care for “Dual Eligible” Seniors

Insurance giant Wellpoint is the latest carrier making a big bet on managing care for those seniors and adults with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. About 9 million people, called “dual eligibles” receive benefits from both programs. They are both very poor and very sick and often have significant needs for personal assistance. Medicaid alone spends $145 [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2012-07-11T22:01:26-04:00July 11th, 2012|Care Coordination, Health reform, long term care reform, Medicaid, Medicare|1 Comment