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Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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“Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac: Christine McVie's open-ended song can celebrate both living and lost loved ones -
First the Wealth Gap, Now the U.S. Has a Growing Health Gap: Discover why the U.S. health gap is growing and how improving healthspan can enhance quality of life for Americans -
How to Comfort A Dying Loved One: End-of-life expert Dr. Marianne Matzo explains some simple ways to offer solace
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Categories
Tag Archives: Medicare
Government Studies Find Health Workers Still Not Reporting Potential Elder Abuse
Though reporting elder abuse is required by law, many health workers fail to notify the proper authorities of suspected abuse or neglect
It appears an alarming number of health care workers across the United States fail to report instances of potential elder abuse. The Office of Inspector General recently produced two reports that outline the scope of the problem. Since the OIG is … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Aging, Elder Abuse, Medicare, neglect, nursing facilities, Nursing home, Senior Citizens, Something special
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Medicare to Tie Nursing Home Payments to Hospital Readmission Rates
Will trying to curb the "boomerang effect" place more patients at risk?
Beginning this October, Medicare will begin penalizing nursing homes with higher than average hospital readmission rates, according to a June 19 report in MedPage Today. In an ongoing effort to curb preventable hospital readmissions, the agency will reward nursing homes … Continue reading
New Interventions and Preventive Care Could Lower Costs and Reduce Hospitalization for Medicare Patients
Experts release a list of ideas for the future care of Medicare beneficiaries
The Bipartisan Policy Center recently found that an estimated 3.65 million Medicare beneficiaries might need more preventive care than they’re currently receiving. These Medicare patients fit into one or more of the following categories: Patients who aren’t dually eligible for Medicaid … Continue reading
Study Finds Medical Marijuana Could Save Medicare Millions
Research shows a correlation between a drop in prescription drug sales and cannabis use
According to two separate studies, medical marijuana could save Medicare an estimated $450 million annually. It could also save as much as $1.1 billion in Medicaid spending on prescription drugs every year. University of Georgia researchers Ashley Bradford and W. … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Chronic Pain Treatments, Glaucoma, Marijuana, Medicaid, Medical Marijuana, Medicare, pain, University of Georgia
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New Quality Measures for Nursing Homes Give Patients Better Information
The five new qualities will change overall nursing home ratings
For years now, the Five Star Quality Ratings system has helped patients and their families compare nursing homes to find the best fit. This year, that rating system has expanded to include five more quality measures, giving patients an even … Continue reading
For-Profit Hospice Facilities More Likely to Overbill Medicare
Study finds that many patients receive more treatment than they need
Recently, a woman was treated as an in-patient at a for-profit hospice facility for a total of 51 days. The problem? Her symptoms were already well-managed, and she only needed occasional help with eating and taking her medication. Researchers found that … Continue reading
