Legal Medical Marijuana Saves Medicare $165 Million

States that legalized medical marijuana -- which is sometimes recommended for symptoms like chronic pain, anxiety or depression -- saw declines in the number of Medicare prescriptions for drugs used to treat those conditions and a dip in spending by Medicare Part D, which covers the cost on prescription medications, according to new research. Because the prescriptions for drugs like opioid painkillers and antidepressants and associated Medicare spending on those drugs fell in states where marijuana could feasibly be used as a replacement, researchers said it appears likely legalization led to a drop in prescriptions.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets the crowd and…

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets the crowd and signs autographs during a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets the crowd and signs autographs during a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati.

Details emerge in whistleblower suit against Ontario-based Prime Healthcare

ONTARIO >> Ontario-based Prime Healthcare medical group responded Wednesday to news the federal government is joining a Medicare fraud lawsuit against the company, denying charges it admitted patients needlessly. The U.S. Department of Justice in June announced it was intervening in an employee's whistleblower lawsuit against the company, which owns and operates 14 hospitals throughout the state, including facilities in San Dimas, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Inglewood and Encino.

Draft of Democrats’ policy positions reflects Sanders’ influence

A draft of the Democratic Party's policy positions reflects the influence of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign: endorsing steps to break up large Wall Street banks, advocating a $15 hourly wage, urging an end to the death penalty. Hillary Clinton's supporters turned back efforts by Sanders' allies to promote a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care system and a carbon tax to address climate change, and freeze hydraulic fracking.

Draft of Dems’ policy positions reflects Sanders’ influence

A draft of the Democratic Party's policy positions reflects the influence of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign: endorsing steps to break up large Wall Street banks, advocating a $15 hourly wage, urging an end to the death penalty. Hillary Clinton's supporters turned back efforts by Sanders' allies to promote a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care system and a carbon tax to address climate change, and freeze hydraulic fracking.

Democrats approved platform draft with Sandersa imprint

Democrats approved a draft of the party platform early Saturday that includes steps to break up large Wall Street banks, advocates for a $15 an hour wage and urges the abolition of the death penalty, reflecting the influence of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Supporters of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton defeated measures pushed by Sanders' allies that would have promoted a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care system, a carbon tax to address climate change and impose a moratorium on hydraulic fracking.

Democrats approved platform draft with Sanders’ imprint

Democrats approved a draft of the party platform early Saturday that includes steps to break up large Wall Street banks, advocates for a $15 an hour wage and urges the abolition of the death penalty, reflecting the influence of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Supporters of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton defeated measures pushed by Sanders' allies that would have promoted a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care system, a carbon tax to address climate change and impose a moratorium on hydraulic fracking.

Candidates avoid Medicare, Social Security finance woes

The nation's framework for economic security and health care in retirement is financially unsustainable, but you wouldn't know it from listening to the presidential candidates. This week the Social Security and Medicare trustees warned of tough choices ahead to keep the two programs solvent over the long run.

Feds will use tax penalty data to find uninsured millennials

With time running out for the Obama administration to prove the success of the Affordable Care Act, officials are aggressively targeting a group that could help turn things around: young people. Federal health officials announced Tuesday they will comb tax records to find 18-34 year-olds who paid the penalty stipulated under President Barack Obama's health act for not buying health insurance and reach out to them directly with emails to urge them to avoid even higher penalties scheduled for this year.

Americans Overwhelmingly Prefer This Presidential Candidate’s Healthcare Plan, Study Shows

We're now officially less than five months away from Election Day, and voters are turning their attention to where the candidates stand on specific issues. Among the issues expected to garner a lot of attention this election season is what should be done with healthcare in America.

Senate Panel Kills Medicare Program That Offers Help On Enrollment, Billing Issues

A program that has helped seniors understand the many intricacies of Medicare as well as save them millions of dollars would be eliminated by a budget bill overwhelmingly approved last week by the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program , or "SHIP," is among more than a dozen programs left out of the bill by the committee.

How the presidential candidates’ retirement programs stack up

If you are closing in on retirement age, you are keenly interested in how the three remaining Presidential candidates - Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders - plan to deal with the fiscal challenges of Social Security and Medicare . If you are not close to retirement age, you should be even more interested, as the long-term stability of both programs could be at stake in this election.