Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare Part D formularies cover nearly all drug classes for treatment of hypertension, hyperlidemia, and depression, with generics accounting for most of the agent.

The one drug category that is different is the angiotensin II receptor blockers or ARB's (such as Losartan).

The problem is that sometimes the brand name drugs, which are probably newer on the market may cause less side effects, and for some patients be more effective.

Long Term Care in America can be improved through looking at the processes used in other countries, and determining how effective those processes are in relation to established outcomes. Four countries were chosen for comparison: England, Germany, Japan and Australia.

• England: England is very similar to the United States, as it relies on regulation to impose national standards on nursing homes. Localities may or may not provide additional regulations.

Responding to patient concern about the quality of care in U.S. hospitals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began measuring hospital performance and reporting this performance on their Web site, Hospital Compare.

US News & World Report's annual guide of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid HMOs and POS plans provides a comparison tool, A-Z index, honor roll, and rankings to help you choose the best health plan for you.

Yearly flu shots are recommended for seniors (paid for by US Medicare), healthcare workers, and people with chronic lung diseases. However, there are those for whom it is not recommended: people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past; children less than 6 months old; people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever. (They should wait until their symptoms lessen before they get the flu shot.)

Pneumococcal pneumonia may begin suddenly, with a severe shaking chill usually followed by High fever, Cough, Shortness of breath, Rapid breathing, and Chest pains. Pneumonia should be treated aggressively, so that it does not give rise to serious lung complications. If you have severe shaking chills, you can assume you have more than a cold!

Medicare advises people at higher risk for invasive pneumococcal disease including those over 64 years old and patients with HIV, splenectomy, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic disorders of the lungs or heart, and cirrhosis to get a one time pneumonia vaccination.

Flu shots are not just for people over the age of 50. Here is a small part of a list of other people that Medicare advises to get a yearly shot to avoid the debilitating symptoms of flu (fever, chills, headache, cough and sore muscles) and even possible death.

Existing medications for COPD do not stop the decline in lung function,so the goal of any medicine prescribed for COPD is to provide relief of symptoms and prevent complications.

Getting pneumonia

The Bush administration revealed that the average premium being paid by people participating in the Medicare drug program will continue to remain at $24 per month for quite some time and could even get lower in 2007.