Study: Cost of elderly care a burden for caregivers

A new study found that the cost of elderly care is more than double that of previous estimates, with caregivers averaging $5,531 per year in out-of-pocket expenses. The findings also revealed that caregivers use their own money to pay for transportation, medical copayments and household items. Click here to read more.

More women under 45 dying from heart disease

A new study shows that more women under the age of 45 are dying from heart disease due to clogged arteries, following years of decline in heart-disease death rates. Experts say higher rates of obesity and other risk factors may be contributing to the increase, and one researcher called the findings a “wake up call” to focus on heart disease in younger adults. Click here to read more.

Survey: Fewer small-business employers offer health plans

According to a Mercer survey, 61 percent of employers with 200 or fewer workers offered health insurance in 2007, down from 63 percent in 2006. One Mercer partner says a challenge to bolstering health plans is determining what small-business employers can afford. Click here to read more.

Business insurance group backs retail clinics for employers

The National Business Group on Health is supporting employer use of retail clinics, citing lower costs and greater convenience. “We don’t see any reason to exclude retail clinics from employer-provided health benefits coverage as long as standards are in place and there is appropriate physician back-up and supervision,” the group’s president said in a statement. Click here to read more.

Adherence to HIV therapy linked to health literacy

HIV-infected patients with low literacy levels often fail to understand instructions for medication offered by healthcare providers, and are significantly less likely to be compliant with treatment, study findings suggest. Click here to read more.