65 Retired Taking Meds, 5 Most Expensive Prescription Drugs for Retirees…

RETIREES SPENT $92.8 billion on prescription drugs in 2010. The majority of this money (68 percent) was paid for just five types of medications that cost Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older $63.4 billion, according to a recent analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Here are the five most expensive types of medications retirees use: Metabolic drugs. Simvastatin, Metformin, Lipitor, Pravastatin and Crestor are among the metabolic drugs that senior citizens spent $22.5 billion on in 2010, the most of any type of medication. This calculation includes out-of-pocket, private and public insurance costs for Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older, but does not take into account over-the-counter medicines or drugs administered in a clinic or physician's office. Over half (59 percent) of Medicare beneficiaries use metabolic medicines, and the…

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Reasons to quit smoking Over 50 that you might actually care about

Q: Yeah, yeah, yeah… smoking might give me lung cancer when I’m like 80.  So why should I worry about it now when I can just quit when I’m old? A: Sure, lung cancer is one of the main reasons to quit, but we know you college (and graduate) students are invincible and don’t really care about little things like mortality, so here are a few other good reasons to quit smoking that might hit a little closer to home: Tooth Loss It is well known among dentists that smoking dramatically increases your chances of “edentulism” (i.e having no teeth). Smoking causes gum disease and plaque build-up which lead to tooth decay and loss. One study showed that the risk of tooth loss in smokers is more than 4 times…

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Stress, run above It With Runner’s High…

The sedative effects of nicotine, paired with the ritualistic activity of sparking upmakes for a temporary and dangerous escape from the pressures of the moment. For smokers, cigarettes are frequently used as a form of stress relief. But there are other sources of stress relief available, many of which can positively impact your overall health. Moderate physical activity, especially aerobic exercises, can make an immediate difference on your mental wellbeing. The psychological benefits of aerobic exercises — walking, jogging, biking, swimming — are grounded in your neurochemistry research shows exercise has the power to reduce levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, while stimulating the production of feel-good chemicals called endorphins. When your friend mentions how they get a “runner’s high” after jogging a few miles — that’s the…

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What is a Discount Prescription Drug Card?

Agility Rx's discount prescription drug card is a FREE card available to those, uninsured or underinsured, to save money on all prescription medications. Instead of paying full price for prescription medication, Agility Rx card members can instantly save money when filling a prescription. Although the card can’t be combined with insurance, our card can help during high deductible scenarios and the Medicare Part-D donut hole. Our card has NO enrollment fee, NO deductibles, and NO activation fees. Agility Rx’s discount card covers all FDA approved brand-name and generic prescription medications. The card is also accepted at over 64,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including most major chains and independent pharmacies. Additional Discount prescription Drug Plan Advantages. Unlimited use; card never expiresDeep DiscountsOver 64,000 Participating PharmaciesCan be use by all family members, friends,…

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Starting January 1st All Hospitals Must Publish Price Lists

New federal law that was announced in April states that in the New Year, hospitals must publish price lists online of all the services they offer. This should also make it easier for patients to access their medical records. Hospitals must publish public price lists under the Affordable Care Act, but with this new law hospitals are now supposed to make these lists available online. Every year these numbers must be updated so patients get the most accurate price. Rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals are also expected to put price lists online under this new law. Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, commented when the program was confirmed: “We are just beginning on price transparency. “We know that hospitals have this information…

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What is Birth Control?

An oral contraceptive is a birth control pill taken by mouth, containing both estrogen and progesterone. The pill, if taken correctly (see directions of pill for more info), will prevent the ovary from releasing an egg for fertilization, or even simpler prevent pregnancy from occurring. The effectiveness of the pill is approximately 91% if taken correctly everyday. Some advantages that come along with taking the pill are that it makes a period shorter, lighter, and more regular. Another advantage is that is can decrease the risk of cancer of the ovaries and uterus. allows the guidelines to bend and change to employers and insurers discursion. Employers and insurance can now cover or refuse to cover based on religious or moral beliefs and require members to pay out of pocket. If…

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Prescription Drug Costs

The high costs of new drugs, as well as the dramatic price increases of some older and traditionally less expensive generic drugs, have thrust drug prices into the headlines. But what’s the full story? Today, we’re shedding some light on the cost of new drug coming to market, generic drug prices, and why drug coupons the picture. Cost of new drugs New drugs can cost a lot—both to Medicare and to the people who need these drugs. We found that Medicare and its beneficiaries spent about $5.9 billion for 75 new Medicare Part B drugs (those typically administered in a doctor’s office) in 2013. And nearly two-thirds of those 75 drugs had annual costs of more than $9,000 per beneficiary. Moreover, the annual costs of 20 of those drugs—most of…

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A Critical Shortage of Nurses, The COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other health care workers, they face an increased demand for their services—which puts them at greater risk of catching coronavirus. So, in honor of National Nurses Week (May 6 through May 12), we are taking a look at our work on shortages in the nursing and health care worker communities. We are also reviewing federal efforts to respond to these shortages, including through the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The nursing workforce Nurses are the largest component of the health care workforce. They provide much of the care for hospital patients and deliver most of the nation’s long-term care. However, the U.S. has been facing a critical nursing shortage for years, partly due to increased…

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Providing Services to older Adults Isolated Due to COVID-19 pandemic

Adults over the age of 60 may be more at risk of serious health issues as a result of the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). These adults may isolate themselves in their homes for increased safety, and may face challenges accessing needed services. In today’s WatchBlog, we look at some of the recent federal efforts aimed at helping older adults, who are stuck at home due to the pandemic,  obtain needed meals and other services. We also look at our work on the strategies developed by rural communities for delivering these services to isolated older adults—strategies that may be helpful in all areas during the pandemic. Older Americans Act programs and the COVID-19 response To stay in their homes as they age, older adults often need services such as in-home care,…

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Superbugs: Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections on the RISE…

Some bacterial infections have become difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. That’s because the “superbugs” causing these infections have developed the ability to defeat antibiotics—the drugs designed to kill them. While antibiotics do not work on viral diseases like COVID-19, they may be useful in treating bacterial infections that sometimes develop in COVID-19 patients. A cause for concern Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue. The figure below shows the cumulative spread of one type of resistant bacteria. In 2019, CDC reported 2.8 million cases of infections and 35,000 deaths from 18 antibiotic-resistant bacteria of concern, including the one tracked in the figure. The Spread of One Type of Highly Resistant Bacteria, 2001-2017 Note: This figure tracks a type of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which, according to CDC, is a “nightmare bacteria”…

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