A study from Meyers Research estimated that 25 percent of baby boomers are "baby chasers," devoted to living close to their grandchildren and being a part of their lives, reports the Tampa Bay Business Journal . Tampa, Fla., is the 14th most popular market for this group, and one of three Florida metros among the top 20 destinations for this demographic. Meyers Research's Ali Wolf says growth in high-income jobs is a common factor in such regions, and five of the top 14 cities for baby chasers have had the most high-income job growth over the past five years. He notes for millennials in such destinations, the combination of growth and affordability "allows you to still live the American dream in these different markets, but also not feel like you're compromising on where your career is headed." Boomers as a demographic consider it critical be both geographically and relationally close to their grandchildren. "There's been a shift back to, 'We want to have that human interaction, and we want our family to be an important part of our lives,'" Wolf says. "I think the digital age is actually pushing us more toward that."

The Trump administration announced that it has withdrawn a key element of its plan to curb drug prices, reports the Wall Street Journal . The White House said it will not move forward with a proposal to curtail industry rebates that drug companies give to intermediaries in Medicare, following a federal court injunction against a separate regulation that required drugmakers to put list prices in TV ads. White House policy aides clashed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over the scope and timing of the rebate rule, with some Republican lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups concerned it would hike Medicare premiums. Further discrediting the plan was a forecast that the federal cost of the measure would be about $200 billion over 10 years. The current regime allows pharmacy-benefit managers to negotiate confidential rebates and discounts on many branded prescription drugs, which are not always passed along to customers at pharmacies.

Home Health Care News confirms that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proceeding with many of the provisions originally included in the Patient-Driven Groupings Model. At the same time, it is proposing to eliminate home health pre-payments, implement a new home infusion benefit, and make Value-Based Purchasing Model performance data public. Perhaps most noteworthy in Thursday's proposed rule is CMS's plans to phase out pre-payments for home health services. Home health providers can presently obtain 50 percent to 60 percent of the anticipated payment at the start of a patient's care episode via a Request for Anticipated Payment (RAP). However, government watchdogs have uncovered "a marked increase in RAP fraud schemes perpetrated by existing home health agencies that receive significant upfront payments, never submit final claims, and then close for business," reports CMS. As a result, CMS is proposing to phase out RAP payments for existing providers over the next 12 months and eliminate them altogether by 2021.

The AARP and the Des Moines Register will co-host five forums in Iowa from July 15 to July 20, where 19 Democratic presidential contenders will meet with senior voters. The forums will concentrate on issues like healthcare and prescription drug prices, which affect older Americans. "Older voters turn out in force in every election, so any candidate who wants to win in 2020 needs to focus on soaring prescription drug prices and other issues they care about," said AARP Senior Vice President of Campaigns John Hishta. Many of the candidates have proposed Medicare for All policies, where public healthcare options are open to more Americans. AARP also will ask each candidate four questions about Medicare, Social Security, and prescription drugs outside of the events.

A multigenerational workforce can collaborate on innovative ideas, reports Forbes . Ensuring such cooperation requires entrenching a process that is consistently applied to all workers. This process should focus on how people meet and plan for their careers, so their ultimate career plan is personalized between the employee and their managers. Also recommended is adopting millennials' openness to be flexible in their job roles, and their skepticism that leadership can answer every challenge. All employees should value conflict irrespective of differences due to generation, age, socioeconomic status, or corporate position. The objective should be to forge connections and alignment, and the safer employees feel about discussing their differences, the more it can drive creativity and wider points of view. "Treat people metrics with the same priority as finance and customer metrics if you want to get the most out of having a multigenerational workplace," suggests Peakon co-founder Kasper Hulthin.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed a bill supported by Sen. James Maroney (D-Conn.) to ensure doctors and nurses throughout the state are sufficiently trained to spot signs of dementia, reports the Milford-Orange Times . "Everyone knows someone, or even has a family member, who has been impacted by Alzheimer's," Maroney said. "This is especially true in Connecticut, where we have the seventh oldest population in the country. With no cure for Alzheimer's, it is imperative that we detect the signs of this disease earlier, enabling us to improve the quality of life of those with this disease." The legislation Lamont signed adds dementia training to the continuing education component for Connecticut doctors and nurses. The measure also authorizes the Connecticut Alzheimer's Plan to be updated, and set up needed infrastructure and accountability to build dementia-capable programs for the 78,000 state residents with Alzheimer's.

SmartSoles from GTX could help track down wandering people with dementia, reports Considerable . SmartSoles are global-positioning system and cellphone capability-outfitted insoles that can be easily adjusted for most shoe types. The devices broadcast a message to a caregiver's phone once the wearer roams beyond a designated area, like the confines of a home or the grounds of a care community. SmartSoles can help prevent the need for hospital visits while ensuring loved ones with dementia are always tracked.

A study from Queen's University Belfast found music can lower stress levels in older adults, reports Newstalk . Older men and women also experienced more stress reduction than younger adults. Prior to the study, participants created playlists of music they would listen to in stressful situations. When they arrived at the lab, they were told they would have to deliver an address to be video-recorded and assessed. Half of the group then listened to their playlist, and the other half listened to a radio documentary. The music group had more stress reduction. "The results indicate that personal music listening can support stress management for both younger and older adults," said Queen's University Belfast's Jenny Groarke.

Polisnelli reports that Florida healthcare providers will be affected by new state laws ushered in at the latest legislative session. One bill expands regulation of telehealth providers and sets up standards of practice, a registration process and mandates for out-of-state providers, record-keeping requirements, and authorization to prescribe controlled substances in certain scenarios. Other legislation directs healthcare providers, before ordering anesthesia or prescribing a Schedule II opioid drug, to notify beneficiaries about available non-opioid alternatives for pain treatment, describe advantages and disadvantages of such alternatives, and supply an informational pamphlet from the Department of Health. Physician offices also must register with the Department of Health by Jan. 1, 2020, if they perform liposuction where more than 1,000 cc. of fat is removed, a Level II office surgery, or a Level III office surgery. Meanwhile, doctors who maintain or own an electronic health records system — or are employed by or contracted with a healthcare community or practice that supports such a system — must electronically transmit drug prescriptions by either the renewal of their license or by July 1, 2021, whichever comes first. Finally, two programs have been launched to import U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription drugs into Florida, contingent on federal clearance. One program offers savings and options for specific populations served by the state, and the other imposes eligibility criteria for drugs which may be imported and mandates for companies that export or import such drugs.

An Encore.org survey determined that although African Americans age 50 to 70 have much more interest in entrepreneurship than older white Americans, actual entrepreneurs are more likely to be white and to earn more, as well as be more educated and affluent, reports Forbes . Overall, white Americans have access to more affordable banks and lending outfits than minorities, and they tend to have larger social or professional networks with access to key contacts who can help them launch ventures. Local business and civic leaders, academics, and engaged citizens can overcome these racial differences by collaborating with those in communities of color and lower-income communities to forge links to entrepreneurial opportunities. This includes greater access to banks and lending institutions and to current entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial hubs, and incubators. The AARP Foundation is getting involved with its Work for Yourself@50+ workshops. Higher learning institutions are also being urged to boost offerings into communities who lack access to their knowledge, as well as help minorities in mid-life learn from community members.