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Recently a friend of mine in her late 70's wondered, "How would I know it's time for assisted living if I live alone?" She has no close family of her own for caregiving. What do you recommend for people like this?.The Health Subcommittee focused on three specific Medicare proposals that President Obama included in his fiscal 2014 budget: establishing a home health copay, increasing the annual Part B deductible, and increasing means-testing measures for Parts B and D. Most Subcommittee Members, along with the expert panel, expressed their disapproval of all three options, stating that they would simply shift costs to seniors instead of targeting the root of the problem. Instead, many suggested that they focus on reforming the delivery system to better reward quality medical care..A widely-discussed plan to reduce the federal deficit would use a slower-growing consumer price index, known as the "chained" CPI, to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment. The proposal, often referred to as "chaining" the COLA, would not be the first time the government has tweaked the inflation index to cut government spending on benefit programs.You receive a call that instructs you to press a number on your telephone keypad to learn how you can receive a Medicare-covered back brace. A live agent comes on the line and asks for your personal information, including your name and Medicare number to determine if you are eligible. Fraudulent suppliers and providers steal your information and use your Medicare number to submit phony claims to Medicare, even if you never order a thing..TSCL Announces Support for House Resolution.In addition to expenses such as out-of-pocket drug costs, and co-pays for visits to the doctor, here are a few of the most common overlooked medical deductions:.Women who receive Social Security benefits outnumber men who do by almost 18%, according to data from the Social Security Administration. While women tend to outlive men, the average benefit received by women is 26% lower than the average benefit received by men..Adding to the confusion, the program will affect beneficiaries differently depending on the area of the country in which they live, and how they are getting their supplies and durable medical equipment. Effective July 1, 2013, in most cases if you have "Original" Medicare coverage and get items in the new program areas, Medicare will only help pay for these items if they're provided by contract suppliers..This week, lawmakers in the House passed legislation to repeal the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board, and The Senior Citizens League announced its support for one new piece of legislation.