Washington, DC - In the next 25 years, older Americans' will pay even an even greater proportion of out-of-pocket health care costs than they do today, according to a new report from the Urban Institute. Older, poorer and sicker beneficiaries, who already spend more than half of their income for health care, will be at an even greater risk for increased costs. Average out-of-pocket costs today for services not covered by Medicare are $3,142; by 2025, that will amount of $5,248 (in 2000 dollars). The report found that low-income, older women in poor health will have out-of pocket costs of $9,378 (in 2000 dollars) compared to a current cost of $5,969. To order Growth in Medicare and Out-of-Pocket Spending: Impact on Vulnerable Beneficiaries, visit www.urbaninstitute.org.
Chicago, IL - Effective January 1, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) issued new standards for pain management and end-of-life care. The new standards explicitly rely hospitals to address care at the end of life; hospitals should "plan[s], support[s], and coordinate[s] activities and resources to assure the pain of all patients is recognized and addressed appropriately." The new standards are the result of two years of effort between JCAHO and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, and relied on the expertise of leaders in pain management nationwide. To read excerpts from the standards, visit www.jcaho.org/standard/stds2001_mpfrm.html.
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