A hospital pharmacist can prevent overprescribing for elderly
A study of Veterans Affairs hospitals showed that 44 percent of frail elderly patients were given at least one unnecessary drug at discharge.
Long-term care costs force many seniors into Medicaid
People who need long-term care are depleting their savings or transferring their assets to others so they can qualify for Medicaid. Long-term care insurance rates are rising, and many seniors find they can no longer afford policies they purchased long ago.
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When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Accenture report highlights digital health priorities for tech-savvy seniors
Nearly 70 percent of seniors said technology is important to managing their health, according to a new report by Accenture. The survey of more than 10,00 people in 10 countries included 350 American seniors aged 65 and older. The majority of people interested in these devices are already actively managing their health, which rings true […]
Dr Emanuel’s death wish harms rather than helps with end-of-life issues
You know the story on US healthcare and the elderly: Our current default is an American tragedy. It’s devoid of truth and candor; it’s inhumane and it’s wasteful. Recent gains in longevity have come by extending the period of disability right before death. Aggressive care treatment is often hoisted onto the frail because caregivers lack […]
Congress needs to repeal the SGR once and for all with new bill
After five years of slow growth, health costs are expected to rise as much as 6.8 percent next year. This forecast is sure to energize Washington lawmakers who have long sought to slash health spending, particularly within Medicare. Efforts to cut Medicare have typically focused on the quantity and cost of treatment, with little regard […]
$26M Longevity Fund ready to provide growth capital to companies focused on senior citizens
Two private equity firms announced the formation of a $26.6 million fund that will focus exclusively on the aging marketplace and companies within it. Chicago-based Ziegler and Ohio-based Link-age Ventures announced the close of the Longevity Fund, which aims to address a number of key issues affecting seniors. Among them: coordination of care, chronic disease […]
Security badge company targets home health workers with Trusted Tag ID verification
The elderly and infirm have long been targets for fraudsters and other criminals, and the fear of being taken advantage of might make some of these people reluctant to use home healthcare services. HID Global, Austin, Texas-based maker of security badges and identity control systems, is trying to provide some peace of mind for homebound […]
MyDirectives wants to change how people think of advance care planning (or just make them think about it, period)
The end of life isn’t a topic people generally like talking about, but according to Jeff Zucker, it’s a topic better discussed at the kitchen table than on the operating table. Zucker is CEO of a company that’s trying to empower consumers to make sure they get what they want, and deserve, in their end-of-life […]
How Aunt Bertha could help hospitals reduce readmissions
For many patients with complex conditions, the main problem is not medicines or even access to healthcare. It’s everything else: food, housing, transportation, money. One pilot project designed to help some of the most expensive patients in Camden, New Jersey, found that it was getting help to meet those basic needs that kept patients out […]
AARP reality check: Members tell healthcare startups which ideas are on time
We invited 50 AARP members from the Philadelphia chapter to CONVERGE. They talked with the entrepreneurs in the Pfizer Startup Showcase. These consumers were our reality check on innovation. A few of the members shared their thoughts on which company resonated with them and their own health concerns. The members also joined a town hall […]
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Caremerge raises $2.1M to nudge long-term care coordination into the mobile health era
Long-term care has been slow to adopt health information technology. With a $2.1 million infusion from investors, this startup hopes to change that. Caremerge has created a suite of apps that run on PCs, tablets and smartphones to help long-term care providers, physicians and families coordinate care of seniors. With the $2.1 million they’ve just […]
Link-age Ventures raising money for a new fund aimed at tech for seniors
Ohio-based private equity firm Link-age Ventures is raising a $20 million to $35 million technology fund this year. The team involved says the fund will invest in everything from early stage to growth-stage larger players in serving the aging population’s needs that include healthcare services and IT. “We are interested in the interplay between the […]
Lawsuit aims to overturn Medicare rules for “observation” care
Hospitals don't have to tell patients they are under "observation" care and Medicare will not cover the costs of that care if the patient is not admitted. Patients who are not admitted for at least three consecutive days do not qualify Medicare's nursing home coverage. Advocates have filed a lawsuit to change these rules.
How better-targeted technologies can fix the mess of emergency medical care
Elderly people and veterans are among the chronically neglected when it comes to American medicine. We know who these people are, so why do they still die alone in their homes? Why do at-risk former warfighters go without potentially lifesaving mental healthcare? Why did an 87-year-old lady suffer a heart attack at a nursing home […]
Want to reduce Medicare spending? Look no further than Part D
As it becomes clear the President Obama is making Medicare a key topic for discussion within the broader context of federal spending, Democrats and Republicans have an opportunity to pursue common-sense reforms that preserve the program while achieving bipartisan support for fixing what isn’t working. Despite ongoing reservations, I believe that some parts of the […]