According to data from a study by the National Insitute on Aging, chronic disability among older Americans has decreased dramatically in the last two decades. As the population ages, the health and function of older Americans is improving. Chronic disability among people 65 and older fell from 26.5 percent in 1982 to 19 percent in 2004/2005

This is good news for the ailing Medicare system as the boomer generation reaches retirement age. In addition to a drop in the rate of chronic disability, the number of Medicare enrollees over 65 who lived in long-term care facilities dropped from 1982 to 2004.

“This continuing decline in disability among older people is one of the most encouraging and important trends in the aging of the American population,” says NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.

Disability among older Americans continues significant decline

An article in the Elder Law Journal of the Illinois College of Law suggests that the Federal government needs to address and regulate health and care issues at Assisted-living Facilities, or ALF’s.

Nursing homes are subject to federal guidelines because they receive Medicare and Medicaid funds. But ALF’s are typically viewed as residential rather than health care facilities and are paid for with private funds. Residents are those who canot live independently but do not require continual nursing care.

Assisted-living facilities offer meals for residents, social activities and housekeeping services in addition to assistance in self-care such as taking medications. But due to there being no federal guidelines regarding training of staff or inspections, the level of care can vary.

The article states that federal laws and guidelines have improved the quality of care for residents in nursing homes and the same must be done for assisted-living facilities.

By 2020, the number of elderly Americans needing long-term residential care is expected to double from 7 million to 14 million.

Federal government needs to take closer look at assisted living facilities

The next enrollment period for Medicare Part D begins on November 15, 2006, but the call centers set up to assist beneficaries are inadequate according the consumer advocacy group, California Health Advocates.

The privatized structure of the new drug benefit makes plan call centers a crucial communication tool for Part D coverage, but both independent surveys and anecdotal reports from counselors show serious lapses in the ability of Part D plans to provide accurate and timely information and to successfully guide people with Medicare seeking to access the benefit. CMS guidance for plan D call centers lacks the necessary specificity and the agency has failed to provide adequate oversight of the quality of service.

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Read the entire report here.

First Wal-Mart announced it would slash prescription drug prices on 124 generic drugs, charging only $4 for both the insured and uninsured. They are rolling the program out in Tampa, Florida with the intention of phasing it into all Wal-Mart stores in Florida.

Now the department store chain Target, has announced it will match Wal-Mart’s $4 rate in the Tampa area.

Wal-Mart plans to add more drugs to the $4 price list, about 300 generic drugs in all. If the program proves successful, they will extend the plan to other parts of the US.

Target Matches Wal-Mart’s $4 Generic RX Price.

Also see related article in Fifty-Something Women.