Medicare Simplifies Enrollment Form
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new, streamlined enrollment form that will make it easier for qualified physicians and other health-care providers to become eligible for Medicare reimbursement .

FDA Offers Halloween Food Safety Tips
Children shouldn't snack while they're out trick-or-treating, before parents have a chance to inspect the goodies.  This is one of several tips on a new FDA page aimed at helping parents and grandparents ease their anxiety this Halloween.

New Program For Frail Elderly To Live In Community
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Social Services, today approved a request by Alexian Brothers Community Services St. Louis, in St. Louis, Mo., to become the first provider under the permanent program of comprehensive care that allows frail elderly people to live in their communities.

Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection
A reader requested an article about Elder Rights and Adult Protection. Title VII, the Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Title, created by the 1992 Amendments to the Older Americans Act addresses the need for strong advocacy to protect and enhance the basic rights and benefits of vulnerable older people.  Also see the State of Colorado page on this issue.

Medicare To Cover New Services For Elderly
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently that it intends to cover eye treatments for those with age-related macular degeneration, foot care coverage for some beneficiaries with diabetes, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for some patients.

$20 Million In Grants For Mental Health Services Following Attacks
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of more than $20 million in additional assistance to eight states and the District of Columbia to support critically needed mental health and substance abuse services following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
The Medicare web page provides information on programs that offer discounts or free medication to individuals in need. You can find information on State prescription drug assistance programs, Medicare managed care plans, and Medigap plans that offer prescription drug coverage in your area.

National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) Help in Dealing With Terrorism
Includes articles such as Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), A Real Illness.

Clinical Trial Tests BCG For Interstitial Cystitis
Ten centers in the United States and Canada seek 260 patients to try a promising therapy for interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic and painful bladder condition that mostly targets women.

Coping With Crisis
Times of crisis can lead to a lot of questions and many concerns. This is especially true for the national tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. The Federal Consumer Information Center offers many publications to help you and your family during this difficult time.

The TRICARE Retiree Dental (TRDP) Program
The only dental benefits program authorized by the government for Uniformed Services retirees will soon be moving into its fourth year. 

Estrogen Doesn't Prevent Second Strokes - Protective Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy Challenged
Estrogen hormone replacement therapy does not reduce the risk of stroke or death in postmenopausal women who have already had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to a report from the first randomized, controlled clinical trial of estrogen therapy for secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease.

HHS, Bayer Agree To Cipro Purchase
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Mr. Helge H. Wehmeier, president and CEO of the Bayer Corporation, today (10/24/01) announced agreement for a significant new federal purchase of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (trademarked Cipro) at a substantially lowered price.  The antibiotic is expected to be available by year end.  Supplementing existing emergency stockpiles, it would be available for use in the event of a bioterror event.

MEDLINE, For 30 Years Serving the Health Community
This month MEDLINE celebrates its 30^th birthday. The web version, called MEDLINEplus, has often been cited here as the authoritative resource for health information from the federal government. We found their Anthrax page to be up-to-date and informative.

New FDA Home Page Look Debuts
Based on feedback from user surveys and other research, FDA has made some changes to its home page that include placing more information within the page's first screen.  Also new to the site is the widely respected Google search engine. 

The Internet and Older Adults
Fifty years ago at the first National Conference on Aging, older adult advocates called upon society to create more opportunities for the engagement and empowerment of older adults. This Administration on Aging site provides evidence of our progress, especially with use of the Internet, in achieving that goal.

Medicare Launches National Education Campaign
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today launched a national education campaign to help answer questions about options in Medicare, including health plans and coverage.

2002 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment
The 2002 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will be 2.6 percent.  This is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next, as announced today by the Labor Department.

HHS Announces Medicare Premium And Deductible Rates For 2002
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced legally mandated increases in the Medicare premium, deductible and coinsurance amounts to be paid by beneficiaries in 2002.

HHS Awards $27.4 Million To Address Emerging Nursing Shortage -- Grants awarded to 82 colleges, universities, other organizations
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced a series of grants and contracts totaling more than $27.4 million to increase the number of qualified nurses and the quality of nursing services across the country.

Center for Disease Control Web Site on Anthrax
Learn about this new threat to our security and dispel unwarranted anxieties.  CDC explains how to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats, and provides the latest Public Health Message updates.

Additional $1.5 Billion Proposed To Combat Bioterrorism
President Bush's $20 billion emergency relief budget request includes $1.5 billion for HHS to further strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and treat potential bioterrorism attacks.

Commercial Drug Discounts Touted
Last week the Bush administration praised the pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline for starting a new private drug discount plan for senior citizens which will enable an estimated 11 million elderly to qualify for 25-40% discounts on medication produced by the firm.

Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries When Their Medicare+Choice Organization Withdraws
Over the past three years some beneficiaries who enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan were affected by their plan's withdrawal. CMS has undertaken a comprehensive outreach effort to educate beneficiaries about their remaining health care options.

New Resources To Treat Type 1 Diabetes
The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced today the award of grants in the amount of $10.4 million to establish 10 Islet Cell Resource (ICR) centers.

First AIDS Vaccine Made At NIAID's Vaccine Research Center Enters Clinical Trial
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) researchers at the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC) today announced the start of a clinical trial testing the first AIDS vaccine invented at the new facility.

HHS Makes $35M In Emergency Funds Available To Entities That Suffered Losses From September Attacks
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the availability of $35 million in competitive grants for public and not-for-profit entities that suffered losses because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

HHS Announces State Plan For $23.7 Million In Relief Funds For Disaster-Impacted Social Services
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of $23.7 million in social services grants for six states and the District of Columbia, areas directly affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Urban Legend – The Phony Email About an Email Surcharge
We’ve received several emails in the past two months about proposed legislation to impose a surcharge on email. This is a hoax. The “news” about this phony bill (602P) has been making the rounds for years.  Check out the Urban Legends page above, or see the USPS press release.

New Pacemaker Transmits Data to Doctor
The FDA has approved the Biotronik Home Monitoring System, a new type of pacemaker that is the first approved implanted device capable of automatic, remote data transmission.

Flu Vaccine Supply Status
This season more vaccine is expected to be available than in previous years. Some delays in distribution are projected, but they are not expected to be as great those in the 2000_01 season. In years without delays, most flu vaccine is distributed by the end of October.

Medicare-endorsed Rx Drug Discount Card Initiative in Federal Court
Tom Scully, Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on October 10 that CMS filed a motion in federal court to stay all proceedings related to the Medicare-endorsed Rx Discount Drug Card initiative.

Health, United States, 2001
HHS released a new report, Health, “United States, 2001”, that shows Americans who live in the suburbs fare significantly better in many key health measures than those who live in the most rural and most urban areas.

Antioxidant Vitamins And Zinc Reduce Risk Of Vision Loss From Age-Related Macular Degeneration
High levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss. The same nutrients have no effect on the development of cataracts.

New Crohn's Treatment Has Fewer Side Effects
FDA has approved Entocort EC (budesonide) capsules for treating mild-to-moderate active Crohn's disease, a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the bowel.  Clinical trials of the drug revealed fewer cases of facial swelling and acne than seen with existing therapies. 

Life Expectancy Hits New High In 2000
Life expectancy for the U.S. population reached a record high of 76.9 years in 2000 as mortality declined for several leading causes of death, according to preliminary figures from a report released today by HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

HUD Grant Encourages Model Building Code Changes To Help Increase Housing Opportunities For People With Disabilities
The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it has awarded nearly $900,000 in an educational grant to help communities ensure that more apartments and condominiums are built to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Preliminary Status Of The Medicare+Choice Program For 2002
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to addressing the problems that have caused disruptions to the program.

TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program
On April 1, 2001, uniformed services beneficiaries 65 years of age and over became eligible for one of the best pharmacy benefits available in the United States to older Americans.  If you missed the announcement read about it at the Tricare web site.

FDA Looking for a Few Good Consumers
FDA needs consumer representatives to serve on its advisory committees.  Candidates should have strong ties to consumer and community-based organizations, as well as experience in analyzing scientific materials and complex public policy issues.  Advisory committees provide FDA with independent opinions and recommendations on regulated products and agency policies.

HHS Provides New Aid To Cities For Disaster Preparedness
25 Awards Today Bring Total to 97 Cities So Far Receiving Assistance.

HHS Announces Release Of $1.3 Million In Relief Funds To Older Americans Impacted By September 11 Disaster
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of $1.3 million in funds to the New York State Office for the Aging and the Virginia Department for the Aging, states whose seniors have been directly impacted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

HHS Announces New Grants To Support Family Caregivers
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the award of approximately $6 million for 34 projects to develop innovative approaches to assist families and informal caregivers of older persons, as well as grandparents and older relatives who are caregivers of children.

NIDCR Funds Centers For Research To Reduce Oral Health Disparities
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) announced that it is stepping up the effort to address disparities in our nation's health by funding five new Centers for Research To Reduce Oral Health Disparities.

Provide Input to the Development of the New Regulations for Title III of the Older Americans Act
Visit the Administration on Aging web site and tell us what you think should be included in new regulations to be developed.

Child Proof Caps and Seniors
We received an interesting letter from one reader praising the new Tylenol caps: “Cheers, many cheers to Tylenol for finally providing lids for Seniors. I am really tired of fighting childproof caps on bottles. I just bought a new bottle of Tylenol and I could open it without any trouble at all, a nice snap on lid.”

Citing Alarming Delays In Treatment, NHLBI And American Heart Association Call On Physicians To Stress Need For Speed In Calling 9-1-1
A joint call to action urging physicians to educate their patients about heart attack warning signs - and the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately - was announced today at a news conference by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the American Heart Association.

NIMH-Funded Researchers Show Better Treatment For Depression Is Cost-Effective
Researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that an inexpensive program that trains primary care providers to work with patients and mental health specialists to diagnose and properly treat depression can reduce the time that participating patients spend clinically depressed.

HHS Announces $126 Million in Relief Funds for Disaster-Impacted Health and Social Services
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that $126,150,000 is being provided immediately to support services provided in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist-inflicted disasters. The funds are part of a total $5.1 billion in disaster-related funds released by President Bush today.

Your Health During Times of Stress
Doctors emphasize the basics during times of stress: rest, diet and exercise. This is good advice any time, but especially now, when tensions are high, and a calm, healthy body will benefit you and your community.

HHS' New York Regional Office Reopens Following Attacks
Secretary's Office Will Temporarily Relocate to New York Region Later This Fall

HHS Awards Native American Elders Caregiver Grants
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the award of nearly $5 million in grants to 119 tribal organizations to implement the new Native American Caregiver Support Program.

Need Help Reading Your Medicare Statement?
Ever wonder what all those codes on your Medicare Statement mean? The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a web page that explains all.

NHLBI Supported Study Finds Inhaled Steroids Accelerate Bone Loss In Women With Asthma -- Treatment Still Recommended for Persistent Asthma
Premenopausal women who use inhaled corticosteroids to treat persistent asthma may experience accelerated bone loss in the hip compared to those who do not use inhaled steroids.

HHS Launches healthfinder® español
HHS announced the launch of healthfinder® español, a Spanish-language Web site that helps consumers track down reliable health information quickly and easily on the Internet.

Scams in Wake of Disaster
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, a warning went out to the elderly and others about charity scams that may appear.

HHS Enhances Web Page As Easier-To-Use Resource On Disaster Information
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced that HHS has re-organized the agency’s Web page to make it easier to find information on resources available to those affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Emergency Phone Number for Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries Whose Normal Medical Needs Have Been Interrupted by the Tragedy.

HHS Releases Immediate Grants for Child Care, Elderly and Mental Health Funds to Assist New York.

FirstGov Provides Focal Point for Resources in Aftermath of Terrorist Attack
Listings of U.S. Government information and resources in response to attack of September 11. Information and links will be added as they become known.

HHS Launches Initial Medical Relief Response To New York, Pentagon Emergencies - Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson activated the National Disaster Medical System, putting medical teams nationwide at the ready to be sent to assist local areas in responding to medical emergencies. This is the first time the federally-coordinated response system has been activated on a full nationwide basis.