People not yet eligible for Medicare are generally expected to “pick the commercial health insurance that is right for them.” The clear implication is that they could easily pick...
Diane Archer
For-profit nursing homes more likely to deny residents hospice...
A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association finds that for-profit nursing homes are increasingly offering their most vulnerable residents high-cost therapy at the...
Assisted living facilities may evict residents: Protect yourself...
Kaiser Health News reports that assisted living facilities throughout the US are evicting residents they claim they can no longer take care of on 30 days’ notice. In many cases, the assisted...
How to ensure the drugs you take are safe and effective
Drugs recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration–within the last ten years–may turn out not to be safe or effective. How can this be? And, how can you ensure the drugs you take...
Two things to do if you or someone you know needs a wheelchair...
Wheelchairs can cost a crazy amount of money, anywhere from $500 to $6000. Fortunately, Medicare will pay for a manual or motorized wheelchair if you meet the coverage conditions, and a doctor...
Earwax can cause hearing loss, if left untreated
If you have a problem hearing, it may stem from excess earwax. Kaiser Health News reports that earwax can cause hearing loss in older adults, if left untreated. Excess earwax is more common in older...
Drugmaker charged with paying kickbacks to sell more Humira
Humira is one of the top-selling drugs in the US. But, it may be in part because its drugmaker, AbbVie, has paid kickbacks to doctors and nurses to sell more Humira. The California insurance...
Medicaid coverage of home and community-based care
If you would like to remain in your home as long as possible–sometimes called “aging in place“–Medicare will be of only limited help. Medicare pays for only a small amount of...
How much are drug companies paying nurses?
Not that long ago, Congress required pharmaceutical and medical device companies to disclose the value of their cash and gifts to physicians. Beginning in 2020, StatNews reports that Congress may...
Medicare and Medicaid: How they work together
Nearly 12 million people with Medicare also are enrolled in Medicaid. If you have Medicare and Medicaid… What does each cover? Who does it cover? It’s important to know how they work...