Elder Law

This one pretty much ruined my breakfast...

Posted on May 09, 2008
Since they first walked the planet, humans have either buried or burned their dead. Now a new option is generating interest ? dissolving bodies in lye and flushing the brownish, syrupy residue down the drain. The process is called alkaline...

And now for the How Did I Miss This report

Posted on May 08, 2008
Pittsburg prof and all around wild and crazy guy Larry Frolik recently published "Residence Options for Older and Disabled Clients" This book is a comprehensive guide to the many different types of housing available for aging and disabled individuals...

Not elder law: Genenic code of world's oldest mammal revealed

Posted on May 08, 2008
Scientists have deciphered the genetic blueprint of the duck-billed platypus, one of the oddest creatures on Earth. The animal comes from an early branch of the mammal family, and like mammals it is covered in fur and produces milk. However,...

How much less do prescription meds cost in UK? inquiring minds want to know

Posted on May 07, 2008
Summary of the data: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) provides details of the number of items and the net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. The drugs dispensed are listed alphabetically within chemical entity by British...

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Profs. Doron and Mewhinney publish collection of international documents relating to rights of the elderly

Posted on May 07, 2008
Received from Dr. Israel Doron, Haifa University: It is with great pleasure that I am letting you know that a new book, which I and Prof. Kate Mewhinney have edited, has just been published. "The Rights of Older Persons: A...

May is Older Americans Month!

Posted on May 02, 2008
How do you plan to celebrate the older persons in your life? Here are some ideas: http://www.aoa.gov/ http://www.midlothianexchange.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=1842 http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/modules/news/article.php?storyid=85 http://www.goldenbuckeye.com/oam/ http://www...

National Health Policy Forum (NHPF) reports on legal services to elderly

Posted on May 02, 2008
The National Health Policy Forum (NHPF) recently issued reports on programs that provide services to older Americans: . The Aging Services Network: Accomplishments and Challenges in Serving a Growing Elderly Population [http://capwiz.com/ncoa/utr/1/DPERIKBPNG/OIEDIKBPQT/1951062716] examines the expanding number of seniors and their...

NALC conference is Dec. 3-6, 2008

Posted on April 30, 2008
Save the Date National Aging and Law Conference 2008 Setting the Agenda: Advocating for Elders after the Election December 3-6, 2008, Arlington, Virginia

Costs for nursing home increase at average rate of 7%/year since 2004

Posted on April 30, 2008
Via KFF Daily Health Policy Report: Costs for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and some in-home care services have increased for a fifth consecutive year and might continue to increase as a result of an expected shortage of long-term health....

ABA publishes Spanish-language materials on planning for incapacity

Posted on April 29, 2008
In 2003, the ABA Commission on Law and Aging produced a Spanish version of its most popular consumer brochure Health and Financial Decisions: Legal Tools for Preserving Your Personal Autonomy. The Commission also produced a 19-minute Spanish-subtitled version of the...

Last chance for $100 discount on Elder Mediation Training, June 13-14

Posted on April 28, 2008
Register by May 1 and save $100! Two-day Elder Mediation Training at William Mitchell College of Law St. Paul, MN June 13-14, 2008 Online registration: http://www.wmitchell.edu/news/events/event.asp?mo=6&ye=2008&id=4003 $100 discount ends Thursday, May 1...

ABA posts health care issues legislative updates

Posted on April 28, 2008
2007 Health Decisions Legislative Summary PDF Surrogate Consent in the Absence of an Advance Directive - January 2008 PDF Health Care Power of Attorney and Combined Advance Directive Legislation - January 2008 PDF

Senate fast tracks Medicaid bill

Posted on April 27, 2008
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday granted fast-track status to legislation (HR 5613) that would block for one year seven new Medicaid regulations, the Wall Street Journal reports (Zhang, Wall Street Journal, 4/25). The legislation would delay implementation...

Not elder law: our ancestors were were one, then two, then one species. Hmmm....

Posted on April 24, 2008
Ancient humans started down the path of evolving into two separate species before merging back into a single population, a genetic study suggests. The genetic split in Africa resulted in distinct populations that lived in isolation for as much as...

CMA report discusses true truth about Medicare cost-sharing

Posted on April 24, 2008
>Guidance released recently by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sheds new light on an issue that has created hardships for beneficiaries and challenges for advocates trying to help them. The guidance addresses two issues: balance billing of...

Some really cool upcoming conferences...

Posted on April 22, 2008
June 1-16, 2008 World Elder Awareness 2008: Online Global Forum Online June 3-4, 2008 OECD Forum 2008 Paris, France June 4-7, 2008 6th International Conference of Gerontechnology (ISG08) Pisa, Italy Too bad I ran out of conference money last October....

NCSL spring forum in DC will focus in part on Medicaid issues

Posted on April 22, 2008
The National Conference of State Legislatures will host its annual Spring Forum where legislators will share ideas, strategies and best practices as well as hear the latest happenings on Capitol Hill. NCSL's Spring Forum will take place at the Hyatt....

2008 Conference on Aging in San Antonio

Posted on April 22, 2008
The 2008 29th Annual Conference on Aging is titled "Geriatric Primary Care: Current Perspectives and New Horizons. It will be held on August 20-22 at the San Antonio Airport Hilton. For more information, visit http://www.sagrecc.org

Not elder law: World's oldest living tree confirmed

Posted on April 22, 2008
The world's oldest tree has been found - 9,550 years after taking root. The spruce began growing in central Sweden shortly after the Ice Age and is still going strong. Researchers carbon-dated genetic material to suggest it hails from 7,542BC....

HHS must release Medicare claims data

Posted on April 22, 2008
Via Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report: HHS last week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia filed an appeal of an August 2007 court decision that requires the department to release Medicare claims data on more...

NAELA student writing competition -- deadline extended

Posted on April 22, 2008
The deadline for the 2008 NAELA Student Journal Writing Competition has been extended to June 1, 2008. All entries must be submitted electronically by 12:00 p.m. EDT on June 1, 2008 in order to be eligible. Submit entries to: sfobar@naela.com....

Elder mediation training--Early bird registration ends May 1!

Posted on April 16, 2008
Senior Mediation and Decision-Making: Training for Mediators, Elder Law Attorneys, and Other Aging Service Professionals A Two Day (14 hour) Elder Mediation Program William Mitchell College of Law St. Paul, MN June 13-14, 2008 Hosted by the Center for Elder...

Health Beat Blog on the high cost of Medicare "Advantage"

Posted on April 16, 2008
Here's how it starts: On Monday, the Bush Administration announced that next year payments to private insurers who offer Medicare to seniors will rise by 3.6 percent. This is a mistake. The last thing that the Medicare Advantage (MA) program...

New CRS report discusses impact of SS reform proposals on elderly poor

Posted on April 16, 2008
Social Security Reform: Possible Effects on the Elderly Poor and Mitigation Options April 04, 2008 Download Locations: >Open CRS (User submitted) Summary: Social Security has significantly reduced elderly poverty. The elderly poverty rate has fallen from 35% in 1959 to...

Dateline show to expose annuity scams aimed at seniors

Posted on April 11, 2008
Here's the promo for the show, which airs Sunday evening Sunday, April 13 (7:00 PM/ET) "With an estimated 15 trillion dollars under their control American seniors have become more of a sales target than ever for insurance agents seeking to...

New CRS reports on spouses' federal retirement benefits

Posted on April 10, 2008
Retirement and Survivor Annuities for Former Spouses of Federal Employees April 03, 2008 Open CRS (User submitted) A former spouse of a federal employee may be entitled to a share of the employee's retirement annuity under the Civil Service Retirement...

Countdown to National Healthcare Decisions Day

Posted on April 10, 2008
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY - April 16, 2008 As a nation, we pay our taxes by April 15th of each year. It is the goal of National Healthcare Decisions Day, that by April 16th, we will talk with our loved...

MedPAC send recommendations to Congress re reimbursements

Posted on April 10, 2008
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Wednesday voted to approve several recommendations to Congress focused on Medicare reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities and primary care. The commission recommended amending the Medicare payment system for skilled nursing facilities to add a...

And...

Posted on April 07, 2008
Rock chalk, Jayhawk. Need I say more?

Shocking study finds parents more willing to talk about drugs, sex than end of life decision-making

Posted on April 07, 2008
A new national survey indicates that Americans are more likely to talk with their children about drug use or sex than with a seriously ill parent about their end-of-life wishes. The survey, completed by more than 2,300 individuals, was conducted...

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