Medicare & Aging

Trump’s Budget Proposal Swings At Drug Prices With A Glancing Blow
By Sarah Jane Tribble
The Trump administration rolled out a list of actions to attack drug prices, but most dance around the edges.

KHN Conversation On Living Well With Dementia
Listen and learn from this Kaiser Health News’ Facebook Live event. “Navigating Aging” columnist Judith Graham led a discussion about dementia, one of the most challenging chronic conditions for individuals and their families — which affects millions of American families.

At Some Veterans Homes, Aid-In-Dying Is Not An Option
By JoNel Aleccia
Citing fears of losing federal funds, California is the latest state to require discharge of terminally ill residents from state veterans homes if they plan to end their lives with lethal drugs.

Bipartisan Senate Budget Deal Boosts Health Programs
By Julie Rovner and Shefali Luthra
The agreement would add $2 billion to the National Institutes of Health and fund community health centers around the country. But it does not include provisions to help stabilize the federal health law’s marketplaces.

Skip The Rocking Chairs For These Rock Stars Of Aging
By Bruce Horovitz
Two women, 80 and 91, from opposite poles, agree on the art of aging.

After Polyps Are Detected, Patients May No Longer Qualify For Free Colonoscopies
By Michelle Andrews
While the federal health law made insurers cover the full cost of screening colonoscopies, consumers with a history of polyps who need more frequent tests may have to pick up some costs.

A Push To Get Older Adults In Better Shape For Surgery
By Judith Graham
Some hospitals now focus on preparing seniors for the risks and realities of surgical care.

Home Care Agencies Often Wrongly Deny Medicare Help To The Chronically Ill
By Susan Jaffe and Heidi de Marco
Agencies sometimes turn away Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health problems by incorrectly claiming Medicare won't pay for their services, say patient advocates.

For Elder Health, Trips To The ER Are Often A Tipping Point
By Judith Graham
Experts provide tips for older patients and their caregivers to cope with the physical and mental declines associated with emergency room visits.

‘Put The Fire Under Us’: Church Spurs Parishioners To Plan For Illness And Death
By Melissa Bailey
Pastor Gloria White-Hammond wants to get all 600 congregants to write down their end-of-life wishes and discuss them with their families.

Care Suffers As More Nursing Homes Feed Money Into Corporate Webs
By Jordan Rau
Increasingly, owners of nursing homes outsource services to companies in which they also have financial interest or control. That allows the nursing homes to claim to be in the red while owners reap hidden profits.

Infection Lapses Rampant In Nursing Homes But Punishment Is Rare
By Jordan Rau and Heidi de Marco
A Kaiser Health News analysis of federal inspection records shows that nursing home inspectors labeled mistakes in infection control as serious for only 161 of the 12,056 homes they have cited since 2014.

Medicare Penalizes Group Of 751 Hospitals For Patient Injuries
By Jordan Rau
Each hospital will have its payments reduced by 1 percent for the year.

751 Hospitals Hit With Safety Penalties For 2018: Data Table
By Jordan Rau

Half Of Hospitals In Conn., Del. Hit By Medicare’s Safety Penalties
By Jordan Rau
Seven states saw a third or more of their hospitals punished under the federal heath law’s campaign against hospital-acquired conditions.