Bipartisian Bills will reauthorize the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act and More Totalaling about $165 Million

About a week ago, we mentioned Sen. Tim Kaine said discussions about a reauthorization of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, which bolstered research and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease may be coming soon. Now we see bipartisan bills being introduced in the US Senate and House of Representatives which, if passed as written and signed into law, would fund public health initiatives related to Alzheimer’s disease to the tune of $33 million each year over the next five years.

US Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024 on Thursday. US Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced a companion bill in the House earlier in the week. The bills would reauthorize the original 2018 act.

“Reauthorization of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will ensure communities across the country have access to resources to promote effective Alzheimer’s interventions and better cognitive health that can lead to improved health outcomes...” - Senator Susan Collins

Here is an article in McKnights Senior Living with details.

 Read Article..

The Hospital Lobby Is Fighting To Keep Congress From Lowering High Prices

 The hospital lobby is ready to do battle with Medicare and Lower Prices.

“Hospitals have a lot of money at stake and will fight this hard,” - Matthew Fiedler, former White House health economist under President Barack Obama, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution

For years Hospitals have been buying up physician practices to make them a part of their ‘hospital system’, but why? Well, hospital-owned physician practices that may not be physically located in a hospital building are paid by Medicare about double the rates it paid to other doctors and facilities for the same services, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and blood tests.

Hospitals will explain that they have higher fixed costs, such as 24/7 emergency rooms and provide uncompensated care for uninsured people, and so the much higher rate is justified.

On the other hand, Insurers, doctors, and consumer advocates have long complained it’s an unequal and unfair arrangement that results in higher costs for patients and taxpayers.

Now in Washington, a recently passed House Bill includes a provision requiring Medicare to pay the same rates for medical infusions, like chemotherapy and many treatments for autoimmune conditions, regardless of whether they’re done in a doctor’s office or clinic owned by a hospital or by a different entity. Known as “site-neutral payment”, it is being hotly contested in the Senate with Hospital Lobbyist determined to Kill the Bill.

The line of reasoning the Hospital Lobby is using is basically this; Any adoption of site-neutral payments would force them to cut jobs or services, or close facilities altogether — particularly in rural areas. And the hospitals are selling that line hard to senators.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Ron Wyden, a democrat says “I have heard lots of questions about how these proposals would affect rural communities and rural facilities... So we’re taking a look at it.”

And regarding the higher prices paid to hospitals than private practices, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, also on the Committee said “In some cases... higher Medicare payments for hospitals are justified.”

So while Hospitals argue they need the extra money because they have higher costs, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on the program, has recommended implementing site-neutral payments for over a decade. Mark Miller, a former MedPAC executive director said ““This is not a hospital cut. It is rolling back an unethical price increase,”

Is “Site-Neutral” Medicare payments to hospitals and private physician’s practices bad for hospitals or good for consumers, including Seniors? Be sure and write your Senator and tell them what You Think.

A 79 Year Old Traveler Has Reached Her Goal - Visit Every Country in the World

Luisa Yu at 79 years of age has visited 193 countries, the Whole World!

So where have you been lately? Luisa Yu is a 79 year old who has reached her goal of visiting Every Country in the World! And to top that feat off, she is now all over the internet. The achievement took more than 50 years and her advise is a bit inspiring, she said, “"Don't wait for anybody,...If I keep on waiting, it will never happen, because the opportunity sometimes comes only once. I can always make money, you know? But time is important."

You can read more about this World Traveler in the truest sense of the word by checking out these links:

NPR

Good Morning America

ABC News