Newsletters

Living Will and the Withdrawal of Life Support

Although it's not a pleasant thing to think about, prudent individuals must plan for the eventuality of death. Such planning includes not only making a last will and testament but also executing a living will, otherwise known as a durable power of attorney for health care.

Healthcare for the Homeless

To bring relief to America's homeless problem, Congress enacted the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The Health Care for the Homeless Program (HCH) was established to provide the health care goals of the McKinney Act. The goal of the HCH program is to provide high-quality, accessible health care services to the homeless.

Medicare Coverage for PET Scans to Diagnose Alzheimer's

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that runs the Medicare program, has decided to cover positron emission tomography (PET) scans for Medicare patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease. Medicare patients who have been diagnosed with dementia and who have experienced a six-month decline in cognitive abilities are eligible for PET scans, as are Medicare patients with early dementia or unexpected memory loss who are enrolled in certain clinical trials.

Detention of Food under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 authorizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detain suspicious articles of food and keep them from entering the country if the food presents a serious threat to humans or animals.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance is an insurance policy or rider that is advertised, marketed or designed to provide an insured with a minimum period of coverage for medically necessary diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, personal care, mental health care, or substance abuse care in a setting other than an acute care unit of a hospital. Long-term care insurance is regulated by state law.