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2008 Medicare Premiums and Coinsurance
The 2008 rates for Medicare premiums and coinsurance have been announced. They are as follows:

• Part A monthly premium $423 . Part A coinsurance $128 per day for days 21-100 each benefit period
• Part B monthly premium $96.40 to $238.40 (dependent on yearly income and tax return)
• Part B deductible $135 . Part B coinsurance 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the service

Medicare Demands Money Back
Historically, patients who ended up in a hospice have tended to live less than six months once curative efforts were withdrawn. Medicare reimbursement for hospice services was structured around this assumption. More recently, however, hospices have begun taking in patients, such as those with Alzheimer's disease, who live longer than the cancer patients that once filled most hospices. While there's no time limit on how long these patients can stay in the hospice, there is a limit on how much Medicare will pay a hospice during a single year-and that's turning out to be a big problem. With payments fueled by these longer-stay patients, hospices have begun to exceed those limits. And now, Medicare is now asking some hospices to pay back funds they received. To read more, go to:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/us/27hospice.html?em&ex=1196312400&en=8f8f830bdfeccd23&ei=5087%0A

Leadership Qualities
Being a leader can be very demanding and overwhelming. Not only are you responsible for a specific job, but many people look to you for guidance. In this section, I will provide you with insight on the role of a leader which will help you to become an effective leader in your organization. The five leadership traits are: Honest, Forward-Looking, Competent, Inspiring and Intelligent .Some people sit and pontificate about whether leaders are made or born. The true leader ignores such arguments and instead concentrates on how to become better. If you are able to increase your skill in these five traits you will make it easier for people to want to follow you. The less time you have to spend on getting people to follow you, the more time you have to spend refining exactly where you want to go and how to get there.

What percentage of Pennsylvania's resident's is 65 or older? The first ten correct responses e-mailed tosupport@patientplacement.com will receive a free gift. Be sure to include your mailing address in the e-mail.

Congratulations to Lestia Burriss, Kellie Haas, Kristen Campbell, Lynn Wilbanks and Elizabeth Williams they correctly answered the previous trivia questions. The correct answer was: 41,000.