Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Debunking Medicare Myths: Drug Rebates for Dual Eligibles

Excerpt from Center for Medicare Advocacy: (click for entire article)

In the midst of ongoing deficit reduction proposals and negotiations, policymakers are considering a wide array of approaches for cutting spending and saving federal dollars. The Center for Medicare Advocacy recently wrote of ways to strengthen the Medicare program while tackling our deficit in a responsible manner that does not endanger the care of Medicare beneficiaries or their families.[1] Included in our analysis was a proposal that would save taxpayers billions of dollars: reinstating drug rebates currently available to Medicaid beneficiaries to those dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (Duals). Since Duals received their prescription drugs through Medicaid prior to the implementation of Medicare Part D, their drugs were subject to the Medicaid rebates through 2005. Simply reinstituting such rebates could save more than $200 billion over ten years.[2] This alert addresses some common misconceptions about the merits of reinstating such drug rebates.

Myth: Competition among private plans in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) program slowed increases in drug prices

Truth: On the contrary, evidence shows that drug prices in general soared after Part D was established and the cost of medications for the 9 million dually-eligible beneficiaries in particular increased when the duals began receiving drugs through Medicare Part D plans. In 2005, before Part D was enacted, the average retail cost of brand-name drugs for individuals with chronic conditions, largely duals, was $1,049. That cost rose over 30% by 2009 to $1,382.[3]  In the 12 months before March 2010, the cost of brand-name prescriptions most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries, including duals, rose by 9.7%, far above the 0.3% inflation rate for the same period. The increased cost has been shifted to Medicare and consequently to all U.S. taxpayers.

Survivor uses second chance to encourage others

Excerpt from Island Packet: (click for entire article)

Brennen Reeves is a 20-year-old college kid who works out at the gym, has two summer jobs and is rehearsing for a production of short plays called "A Celebration of the Short Attention Span."

But for most of his life, Brennen's attention was focused on something we take for granted -- breathing.

At eight weeks, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a progressive disease in his lungs and pancreas that nearly choked the life out of him before he got a double-lung transplant Feb. 21.

"Before my transplant, I had to think about every breath I took," he said. "Now it comes naturally. That makes such a difference."

MSU, Van Andel investigate drug to halt Parkinson’s progression

Excerpt from Michigan State University: (click for entire article)

Researchers from Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, Van Andel Research Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute are investigating a drug that has the potential to not only alleviate Parkinson's symptoms but also halt the disease's progression.

A $400,000 grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research – part of $2.4 million in funding the foundation awarded this week to institutions nationwide – will fund the research project.

Researchers are focusing on the drug Fasudil, which is currently approved in Japan to improve blood flow to the brain in stroke victims and has shown similar positive outcomes in U.S. clinical trials.

Children With Special Health Needs Will Suffer From Medicaid Cuts

Excerpt from Public News Service: (click for entire article)

Amidst talk of raising the federal debt ceiling and balancing the budget through massive cuts to domestic spending, a new study focuses on the price many families whose children have special health care needs would have to pay if the Medicaid budget is cut. Almost 3 million such children rely on Medicaid or state Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

One of them is Tesha Imperati's 12-year-old son, who is autistic. Imperati, a single, working mother of two from North Haven, says she depends on Medicaid coverage through Healthcare for Uninsured Children and Youth (HUSKY)

HHS Issues Proposed Rule on Consumer Oriented and Operated Plans

Excerpt from Health Reform Source: (click for entire article)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues a proposed rule regarding the creation of non-profit CO-OP insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The rule:

– “Sets forth the eligibility standards for the CO-OP program;
– Establishes some terms for loans; and
– Provides certain basic standards that organizations must meet to participate in this program and become a CO-OP.”

Lost & Found: What Brain Injury Survivors Want You to Know

Excerpt from Brainline: (click for entire article)

I need a lot more rest than I used to. I’m not being lazy. I get physical fatigue as well as a “brain fatigue.” It is very difficult and tiring for my brain to think, process, and organize. Fatigue makes it even harder to think.

My stamina fluctuates, even though I may look good or “all better” on the outside. Cognition is a fragile function for a brain injury survivor. Some days are better than others. Pushing too hard usually leads to setbacks, sometimes to illness.

Brain injury rehabilitation takes a very long time; it is usually measured in years. It continues long after formal rehabilitation has ended. Please resist expecting me to be who I was, even though I look better.

Social Security Benefits for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Excerpt from Disability.gov: (click for entire article)

Information about disability benefits that are available to you if you are blind or have low vision and can’t work. You may be able to get disability benefits even if you are not legally blind. Social Security also has work incentives that can help you go back to work and still receive benefits. This link opens a PDF document.

Caregivers for the elderly perform a valuable service

Excerpt from Naples News: (click for entire article)

A new study from AARP tells us what we already know — family caregivers for the elderly perform a valuable service.

Some would call it priceless, though the AARP survey does attempt to put a price tag on it. The organization specializing in senior issues says the values of a single year’s care is $450 billion nationwide, at the rate of about $11 an hour.

Those who are familiar with nursing home bills will tell you that figure is on the low side.

Alzheimer's caregivers need respites, support themselves

Excerpt from Statesman.com: (click for entire article)

Every Friday morning, Cindy Henderson gets a three-hour respite from the demands of taking care of her mother, Alice Galindo, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago. Her mother, in turn, gets to spend that time taking dance lessons, talking with friends, drinking pink lemonade and enjoying seated chair yoga.

Petite with snow-white hair, Galindo, 79, has participated in the weekly Town Lake YMCA Senior Retreat for six months. Designed for people with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, the program gives their caregivers a much-needed break. Most caregivers use the time to run errands, exercise, have lunch with one another or just relax.

On a recent Friday, Galindo and four other seniors follow the instructions of dance and movement teacher Elizabeth Doss. They each face a YMCA staffer in a circle, heels pressing into the wooden floor as sunlight gleams through floor-to-ceiling windows. "Try to pull your belly button in toward your spine," Doss tells the participants, who are teasing each other and smiling. They take advantage of the lack of men in attendance this week and continue with hip exercises that slightly resemble belly-dancing.

Social Security payments would fall with new inflation gauge

Excerpt from USA Today: (click for entire article)

A new measure to calculate inflation that's catching on in Washington, D.C., would have a big impact on how much cash is distributed by Social Security.

More important for politicians debating how to fix the nation's bloated budget: Analysts say it would cut the deficit by $200 billion to $300 billion over the next decade.

The bipartisan "Gang of Six" plan presented by six senators last week proposed shifting to a so-called chained consumer price index. The traditional CPI simply tracks a basket of goods, everything from cars to kitchen utensils. The basket of goods doesn't change.