Talk about sending a clear message to the president. In a rare display of unified opposition, Congress overwhelmingly overrode President Bush’s veto of the crucial Medicare bill late Tuesday. The House...
Sen. Ted Kennedy: a giant in the Senate
By
Liza Berger
Jul 11, 2008
People are capable of doing extraordinary things. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) proved that this week when he flew—against doctors’ wishes— to the Senate to cast his vote for the Medicare bill. Even...
McCain is the cat’s meow, pet owners say
By
Liza Berger
Jul 08, 2008
Stop the presses. Some startling poll findings emerged this week: Pet owners favor John McCain over Barack Obama. Gasp! Could it be true? Indeed. Animal proprietors prefer McCain to Obama 42% to 37%, according...
The return of Medicare Part B therapy caps
By
Liza Berger
Jul 01, 2008
Starting today, a nursing home resident may opt out of physical therapy because she has exceeded Medicare’s payment limit. And a nursing home may deliver therapy knowing it will not get paid for it....
PETA definitely barking up the wrong tree
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 25, 2008
Some people, and their groups, are better at furthering the art of tactless solicitation than others. For the latest case of hoof-in-mouth disease, we only have to look to our friends at People for the...
Star rating system: Expedia for nursing homes?
By
Liza Berger
Jun 20, 2008
Yes, you too could be the Four Seasons of nursing homes. As we all know by now, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to create a five-star quality rating system for facilities (see stories...
The durable medical goods bidding backlash
By
Liza Berger
Jun 13, 2008
Make that one for Sen. Charles Grassley. The usual thorn in the side of the nursing home industry likely won some points from this crowd this week after introducing a measure that would delay the new durable...
I want to be Jack LaLanne
By
Liza Berger
Jun 11, 2008
You’d think by the age of 93 you’d be ready to kick back, take stock of things and reminisce a little. Not Jack LaLanne. The so-called “Godfather of Fitness” is still going full-throttle. “Everybody...
The end is near for physician payment cut dilemma
By
Liza Berger
Jun 04, 2008
Time does stand still sometimes, doesn’t it? Take the race for the Democratic presidential candidate. It seemingly had been moving at the pace of molasses for more than a month. Like an instant replay...
Athlete is positive role model at age 82
By
Liza Berger
May 30, 2008
Here’s yet another story from the annals of preternaturally active older Americans: Bob Gralley, an 82-year-old resident of Oak Crest retirement community in Parkville, MD, recently completed the running...