Seniors

June 6, 2007 -- LAS VEGAS -- Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Dree Ward has pled “no contest” to one felony count of selling unregistered securities in a securities fraud scam targeting primarily senior citizens throughout Nevada. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a plea of guilty to criminal charges but the plea cannot be used against the defendant to prove civil liability. Ward has also agreed to pay $110,000 in restitution to victims.    » read more »

National campaign to stop Medicare physician payment cuts begins

June 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Medicare patients' ability to get in and see the doctor will be severely hampered next year by a steep Medicare cut to physicians, according to a new survey released today by the American Medical Association (AMA). The survey, which jumpstarts a national campaign to stop next year's 10 percent cut, was completed by nearly 9,000 physicians, and their responses paint a bleak picture for the future of Medicare.    » read more »

June 1 , 2007 -- (SANTA FE, NM) -- New Mexico Attorney General King is beefing up his office’s resources to aggressively prosecute elderly abuse cases.    » read more »

Colorado Governor Ritter also signs 14 additional bills late Wednesday afternoon

May 30, 2007 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed seven bills into law today that directly assist senior citizens, people with disabilities and those who suffer from mental illness and debilitating cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Later in the day, Gov. Ritter signed an additional 14 bills into law.    » read more »

Letter Sent to Secretary Leavitt Following Passage of Supplemental Appropriations Bill

May 29, 2007 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt electing to extend SeniorCare for two and half years. The SeniorCare extension was granted as a part of the Emergency Supplemental Spending bill passed by Congress and signed by the President last week.    » read more »

May 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras raising serious concerns about whether the FTC has adequately protected America's seniors from abusive telemarketing fraud schemes.    » read more »

May 17, 2007 -- (TUCUMCARI, NM) — New Mexico Attorney General Gary King’s office is conducting an educational presentation about common consumer scams Friday, June 1 at the Tucumcari Senior Center, 523 South 3rd in Tucumcari. The presentation begins at 11:00 a.m., the public is invited.    » read more »

15 May 2007 -- Osteoporosis in older men and women is a public health problem around the world, especially as people in many countries live longer. As bones become more fragile with age, they are more likely to break or fracture. In some countries, the lifetime risk of an older woman having either a hip, wrist or vertebral fracture is between 40 and 50 percent.    » read more »

Goal is to transition at least 1,000 people from institutional settings

RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that Virginia has been awarded a four-year, $28.6 million “Money Follows the Person” demonstration grant by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The federal funding will help the Commonwealth design services and programs to transition at least 1,000 seniors and adults and children with disabilities from institutions, such as nursing facilities, into appropriate community-based housing.    » read more »

May 14, 2007 -- Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe praised the passage of L.D. 1428, “An Act to Facilitate Reporting by Maine Financial Institutions of Elder Financial Exploitation”. This legislation provides immunity to banks and other financial institutions for good faith disclosures of suspected financial exploitation of dependent adults.    » read more »

May 11, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today applauded the Missouri General Assembly for giving final approval of tax relief to Missouri's seniors. The tax cut, House Bill 444, sponsored by House Speaker Rod Jetton, was one of Blunt's top priorities.    » read more »

State Long Term Care Leaders Arrive in Washington Asking Congress to Help Protect, Defend and Preserve U.S. Seniors’ Vital Safety Net Programs, Sustain Key Quality Improvement Initiatives; Hundreds of Front-Line Caregivers, Facility Administrators, State Executives Arrive on Capitol Hill to Tell Senate, House Lawmakers Funding Stability Best Means to Protect America’s Most Vulnerable Frail, Elderly & Disabled

April 10, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Several hundred long term care leaders from every region of the nation are on Capitol Hill today advocating before U.S.    » read more »

May 10, 2007 -- CHARLESTON - West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin today announced that a new in-home services program for seniors will begin July 1, 2007. As a result of legislation introduced by the governor and passed by the West Virginia Legislature during this year’s regular session, the LIGHTHOUSE Program was created by the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services to help assist seniors.    » read more »

Will Ensure Seniors Have Access to Life-Saving Affordable Prescription Drugs

May 09, 2007 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today unveiled WisconsinCare, a new program to provide seniors with access to life-saving prescription drugs at a price they can afford, without all the complications and donut holes found in Medicare Part D. Last month, the Bush Administration denied Governor Doyle’s request to continue SeniorCare, Wisconsin’s successful prescription drug program for seniors.    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- Des Moines. Publishers Clearing House and other companies that use sweepstakes to promote their mail-order products appear to be draining the income of many older Iowans, says Atty. General Tom Miller.

Miller is warning Iowans to be wary of sweepstakes mailings that induce older Iowans to believe – falsely – that they may be close to winning a major sweepstakes prize, and that their chances of winning may go up if they order more merchandise or magazines.    » read more »