FirstGov for Seniors NEWS ARTICLES FOR MARCH 2000
Welcome to the March 2000 edition of the FirstGov for Seniors monthly newsletter. This newsletter is a compilation of articles that were featured on the FirstGov for Seniors website in the past month. Articles are organized by the following categories:
Special Topic of the Month (Alzheimer's Disease)
KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, PRAISES SENATE ACTION AND ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE REPEAL OF THE RETIREMENT EARNINGS TEST
Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security, praised the United States Senate for its vote of 100-0 earlier this week to eliminate the retirement earnings test. The United States House of Representatives passed a similar version on March 1 by a 422-0 vote. (See articles below under Legislative News)
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/earnings_test.html
CUOMO AWARDS $5.2 MILLION TO HELP ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE LIVING AT HOME
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo awarded $5.2 million in grants to help more than 5,500 low-income elderly people and people with disabilities living in HUD-subsidized housing get health care, meals and other supportive services.
http://www.hud.gov/pressrel/pr00-52.html
GRASSLEY: MEDICARE MUST IMPROVE OUTREACH ON COLON CANCER
Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, said the Medicare program must do a better job of educating older Americans and their doctors about colon cancer screenings.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/colon_cancer.html
CENSUS 2000 -- OLDER AMERICANS COUNT
Jeanette C. Takamura, Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services, announced Administration on Aging (AoA) participation in a government-wide outreach effort encouraging Americans, in particular older persons and their caregivers, to complete and return their Census forms, and to participate as temporary workers or volunteers in Census 2000.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/older_americans_census.html
PBGC TO CONTINUE TO MAKE LUMP SUM INTEREST RATES AVAILABLE
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced
today that it intends to continue to
calculate and publish lump-sum interest rates using its current methods (or a surrogate for those rates)
indefinitely. Many ongoing pension plans use these PBGC rates to determine the amounts of lump sum pension benefits
they pay to workers and retirees.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/PBGC.html
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING SPONSORS AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKAN NATIVE, AND NATIVE HAWAIIANS PROGRAM
The Administration on Aging (AoA) advocates for older American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. AoA coordinates activities with other federal departments and agencies, administers grants, and collects and disseminates information related to the problems of older Native Americans.
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/May2000/FactSheets/NativeAmericans.html
SSA TO HOST PUBLIC FORUMS ON MODELS AND STRATEGIES FOR AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE
The 1999 report of the Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities recommended that SSA plan and host a series of public awareness meetings for constituents and customers of public disability programs. These forums will focus on Federal and State employment-related policies and programs for people with disabilities.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/public_forums.html
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Get the latest Social Security news at the click of the mouse. Beginning March 1, 2000, the Social Security Administration will send Social Security news as it happens to individuals and organizations across America who request it. SSA's new service, Social Security E-News, is an electronic newsletter available free to subscribers through the Agency's Internet site Social Security Online.
http://www.ssa.gov/enews/enews3100.htm
VA AND PATIENT SAFETY
As the administration today unveiled the recommendations of a special White House task force on patient safety, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo D. West Jr. noted that the veterans agency launched a multi-faceted initiative on patient safety three years ago.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/va_patientsafety.html.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH LAUNCHES "CLINICALTRIALS.GOV": DATABASE GIVES PUBLIC EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT RESEARCH STUDIES
The National Institutes of Health today announced the launch of the first phase of a consumer-friendly database, "ClinicalTrials.gov", with information on more than 4,000 federal and medical studies involving patients and others at more than 47,000 locations nationwide.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/clinical_trials.html
SAVE YOUR MONEY, ASK FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
Many companies offer senior citizen discounts to people over fifty. It is estimated that a typical senior could save up to $7,500 a year by asking for senior discounts and freebies.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/375700.asp
ARE PHARMACISTS IN SHORT SUPPLY?
How many pharmacists does it take to fill America's prescription needs? A new study announced today in the Federal Register by the Health Resources and Services Administration will find out. A report to Congress is expected by December 6.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/pharmacists.html
WHY IS HANDWASHING IMPORTANT?
Healthcare specialists generally cite handwashing as the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease. Julie Gerberding, M.D., director of CDC's Hospital Infections Program, explains how handwashing can prevent the spread of infectious disease.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/handwashing.html
NEW SOLUTIONS TO CORRECT AGING EYES
Solutions such as monovision contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, and refractive surgery will eliminate the need to wear old-fashioned bifocals or reading glasses.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/aging/03/27/short.arm/index.html
NEW CHOLESTEROL DRUG A 'MILESTONE'
A new once-a-day pill raises levels of HDL, or "good," cholesterol by almost 40 percent, while lowering triglycerides and LDL, or bad," cholesterol by about 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The drug is being hailed as an important breakthrough by experts.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/382577.asp
NIAMS-FUNDED ANALYSIS OF GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SULFATE TRIALS SHOWS PROBABLE USEFULNESS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
A systematic analysis of clinical trials on glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for treating osteoarthritis (OA) has shown that these compounds may have some efficacy against the symptoms of this most common form of arthritis, in spite of problems with trial methodologies and possible biases.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/osteoarthritis.html
A NEW STUDY FINDS MORE BAD NEWS FOR SMOKERS
Researchers have discovered that cigarette smokers are over four times more prone to blood infections and meningitis than nonsmokers.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/379532.asp
COMPETITION TO HELP MEDICARE PROTECT QUALITY, REDUCE MEDICAL SUPPLY COSTS IN SAN ANTONIO
Medicare will begin using competition to pay more reasonable prices for quality medical equipment and supplies in the San Antonio area, launching a pilot project that could save beneficiaries 17 percent in out of pocket costs.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/San_Antonio_medicare.html
MEDICARE+CHOICE YEAR PAYMENTS FOR 2001 ANNOUNCED
The majority of Medicare+Choice managed care plans will see federal payment rates increase by 2 percent, the minimum increase guaranteed by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, while others will receive 3.3 percent, the Health Care Financing Administration announced.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/medicare_payments.html
UNIVERSAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT NECESSARY TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE COVERAGE FOR ALL MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES
Medicare beneficiaries who do not have prescription drug coverage fill fewer prescriptions and have higher out-of-pocket drug expenditures than beneficiaries with coverage, according to an annual study by the Health Care Financing Administration.
http://www.hcfa.gov/news/pr2000/pr000306.htm
WOMEN AND LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
Long-term care, it seems, is a concept that many women don't think about. Or they prefer to believe the problem will not affect them, a recent study found.
http://cnnfn.com/2000/02/29/senior_living/q_retire_insurance/
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 2000 NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES
Health observances are days, weeks or months devoted to promoting particular health concerns. The month of March has the following health observances: Hemophilia Month, Mental Retardation Awareness Month, National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Eye Donor Month, National Kidney Month, National Nutrition Month, and Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month.
http://nhic-nt.health.org/Pubs/2000healthobserv/nhomar.htm
HOUSE PASSES H.R. 5, SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT OF 2000
On March 1, 2000, the House passed H.R. 5, the "Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000." As passed, the bill would eliminate the Social Security retirement earnings test in and after the month in which a person attains normal retirement age.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/hr5.html
SENATE PASSES H.R. 5, THE "SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT 2000"
On March 22, 2000, the Senate passed H.R.5, the "Senior Citizen' Freedom to Work Act of 2000," by a vote of 100-0. The House passed a different version of the bill on March 1, 2000. Rather than convene a House/Senate conference to iron out bill differences, the House is expected to take up the Senate-passed version of the bill shortly.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/seniors_work_act.html
PRESIDENT CLINTON RELEASES NEW STATE-BY-STATE REPORT DEMONSTRATING URGENT NEED FOR MEDICARE REFORM
President Clinton today will release a new report, called "America's Seniors and Medicare: Challenges for Today and Tomorrow", providing a state-by-state snapshot of the unprecedented demographic and health care challenges confronting Medicare.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Work/022900.html.
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SENATE DEMOCRATS UNIFIED IN VISION FOR NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
President Clinton will receive and endorse a set of "Prescription Drug Principles" which will be used to evaluate any Medicare prescription drug benefit proposal developed in Congress. These principles affirm that drug benefits targeted only to low-income Americans through block grants, or primarily to high-income beneficiaries through tax incentives, would be unworkable and unacceptable.
http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0300/medicare_prescription.html
SPECIAL TOPIC OF
THE MONTH (ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE):
WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
The Administration on Aging says "Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia among older persons, is evidenced by a progressive, irreversible decline in mental functioning."
http://www.aoa.gov/factsheets/alz.html
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE FACT SHEET
Learn what Alzheimer's Disease is, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed and what research is currently in progress to try to combat this mysterious disease that afflicts mainly older adults.
http://www.alzheimers.org/pubs/adfact.html
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
Click here to take a quiz to test your knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease.
http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9803/htm/alzheimers/
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services healthfinder® supplies a number of links to web resources and organizations that specialize in the treatment and research of Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/HTMLGen/TxtSrch.cfm?NewText=Alzheimers%20Disease&ShowPg=0
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE EDUCATION AND REFERRAL CENTER
The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center's is a service of the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The NIA is one of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here you will find information about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
http://www.alzheimers.org/
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
The Alzheimer's Association has nearly 200 chapters nationwide that provide a wealth of programs and services to persons with Alzheimer's disease, their families and caregivers, and health care professionals. Visit their website to find the chapter in your area as well as a wealth of other useful information about Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.alz.org/
RECEIVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH UPDATES VIA E-MAIL
The National Institute on Aging can send future research updates about Alzheimer's Disease to your e-mail address.
http://www.alzheimers.org/nianews/nianews.html
CLINICAL TRIAL OF NEW DRUGS: HOW THEY WORK, PROS & CONS, HOW TO JOIN
If your loved one has tried available Alzheimer's treatments, and they have not shown the expected benefit, you may wish to enroll him or her in a test of a new as-yet-unapproved drug.
http://www.alzheimers.com/health_library/treatment/treatment_10_trials.html
HOUSEHOLD MODIFICATIONS TO CONSIDER
Is your house safe? Make some simple changes that will keep a person with Alzheimer's out of harm's way.
http://www.alzheimers.com/health_library/coping/coping_04_house.html
WORLD ALZHEIMER'S CONGRESS 2000
The World Alzheimer's Congress 2000 will be held July 9-18, 2000 in Washington, D.C. The conference's theme, "With Change in Mind", is focused on developing new thinking for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.alzheimer2000.org/
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING TO SUPPORT NEW ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Jeanette C. Takamura, Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services, has announced the availability of federal funds to State government agencies to plan, establish, and operate services and assistance for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, their families and others who care for them.
http://www.seniors.gov/topics/alzheimers/demonstration_projects.html
NEW STUDY FINDS THAT BRAIN PLAQUE MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Researchers from Rockefeller University found that high levels of beta-amyloid protein in brain tissue may cause Alzheimer's disease.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/03/21/alzheimers.plaque/index.html
RECENT STUDY MAY HELP EXPLAIN RISK FACTORS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may help explain how deposits of amyloid protein damages brain nerve cells in Alzheimer's patients.
http://www.alzheimers.com/news/20000302-3481.html
MAUREEN REAGAN SEEKS FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH
Maureen Reagan, daughter of President Reagan, travels to Washington, D.C. to seek increased funding for Alzheimer's disease research.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/aging/03/21/reagan.alzheimers.ap/index.html