Disability

Governors: Give states $4 billion for Medicare mistakes

July 07, 2011

The National Governors Association says the federal government owes the states up to $4 billion for wrongfully denying disabled individuals Medicare coverage over the past 30 years.

Sociable seniors show lower risk for becoming disabled in old age, study finds

February 18, 2011

Older adults who remain as physically and socially active as possible have a better chance of not becoming disabled in their elderly years, say researchers at Rush University in Chicago.

Disability rights activists criticize nursing homes during Pelosi speech

June 10, 2010

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced harsh criticism from disability rights activists during a speech to a group of progressives. Her address on policy and healthcare reforms was met with constant chants and protests on Tuesday, according to news reports. The protesters were from a group that previously has demonstrated boldly at nursing home provider association meetings.

HHS awards funding for research into effective therapies and services for the disabled

May 10, 2010

The Department of Health and Human Services has allocated stimulus funding for research projects that will attempt to determine the effectiveness of disability services, including rehabilitation services.

Mobility, ADL difficulties rising among middle-aged Americans

April 07, 2010

More older, middle-aged Americans are reporting serious mobility-related disabilities and difficulties performing activities of daily living than ever before, according to a new study.

A question of word choice: 'long-term care' versus 'long-term services and supports'

Liza Berger January 14, 2010

A new phrase appears to be emerging in the lexicon of long-term care. That phrase is "long-term services and supports." (Notice the omission of the word "care.")

Disabled Medicaid beneficiaries often have psychiatric illness, multiple chronic conditions, study finds

October 21, 2009

Nearly half of all Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities also have psychiatric illness. They also increasingly are being diagnosed and treated for multiple comorbidities, according to a report released Tuesday by the Center for Health Care Strategy.

House leadership considers bypassing committee to speed vote on healthcare reform bill

July 27, 2009

House leaders are keeping all options on the table on a healthcare reform vote as the Aug. 7 congressional recess date nears. Among the possibilities is their bypassing the Energy and Commerce Committee and sending their healthcare reform package straight to a floor vote.

Sebelius praises CLASS Act

July 08, 2009

The Senate proposal to create a national long-term care disability insurance program Tuesday gained the key support of President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.