We think this observation from HomeCare columnist Neil Caesar, president of the Health Law Center, bears repeating. Commenting on the current lack of information about DME competitive bidding, Caesar says, the uncertainty of it all is enough to prompt a provider to make like an ostrich and hide its head in the sand. But this is not a recommended move. “When an ostrich does this, it exposes another sensitive portion of its anatomy,” he points out.
Source: “Countdown to Change,” HomeCare, January 2006
“We are now in an era when it is possible and often
desirable for millions of seniors with long-term care needs to age
in place” in their homes.
— CMS Administrator Mark McClellan speaking at the
2005 White House Conference on Aging
Source: U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs
80% of people 65 or older own their own homes.
Source: MetLife Mature Market Institute, Demographic Profile of Americans 65+, September 2004
“While the growth rate is declining, the cost of health
care continues to be a concern for government, business,
individuals and families. We must build on steps already taken
— the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, advancing
health information technology and encouraging a prevention-oriented
society — to find innovative, market-based ways to control
costs.”
— Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike
Leavitt
Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
$38,000 The amount that obesity adds to the lifetime cost of treating a Medicare beneficiary starting at age 70 compared to a beneficiary of similar age and normal weight.
Source: The Rand Corp., Future Health and Medical Care Spending of the Elderly
