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Show Page 22-- THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Friday. October 8, 1982 Feds Seek New Suicide Rate Higher In Broken Home Families Medicare Program - WASHINGTON (UPI) With hospital bills soaring at three times the inflation rate, the government wants states to adopt a new Medicare payment system that encourages thrift, Health Secretary Richard Schweiker said. Hospitals are now paid on a "cost-plus- " system based on each such as service operaa patient gets. tions and tests Under the government's "prospective payment" system, hospitals would be paid a fixed fee based on a patient's diagnosis. "Hospitals have been paid what- ever they spend," Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Schweiker told a small group of reporters. "We give no reward for those who are efficient." The administration's plan gives hospitals "a positive incentive to control costs, because they know in advance how much they will be paid for treating a particular patient. There's a reward for efficient delivery of care. They'll be able to retain any surplus." Schweiker said he signed a regulation, to be published in the Federal Register today, listing guide- - lines for states who want to apply for waivers to the cost-plu- s system for Medicare, the federal health program for the aged and disabled. They also can include Medicaid, the program for the poor, but new payment systems for that program already are encouraged by recent legislation. Studies show a basic prospective payment system saves 1 percent to 5 percent in Medicare hospital costs, but the government program "can potentially do more than that," Schweiker said. Schweiker said Medicare hospital bills soared 19.2 percent a year Medicare expects to from 1979-8spend $38 billion on hospitals in fiscal 1983, and its hospital bills will soar 32 percent between 1983 and 1985 if unchecked, he said. Schweiker said hospital costs so far this year rose three times the overall 15.5 percent vs. 5.1 inflation rate PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UPI) suicides by Attempted young people occur more often in families with one or both parents missing or in families where parental drug or alcohol problems inhibit communication, a seven-yea- r study found. They are also more likely to come from families undergoing economic stress or have relatives who attempted suicide, it said. The study included 50 children not yet in their teens, including one as young as 6. Those involved showed twice the rate of paternal unem- 2. ployment and 14 The findings were published Wednesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry. "Parents coupled with economic concerns may be less able to attend to ... stress in their offspring. In addition, a percent. Critics say the current system encourages hospitals to order tests and other treatment without considering cost. By setting out fees in advance, the government will encourage .thrift, they A White WASHINGTON UPI) House spokesman denied the Reagan administration is plan ning to reduce food stamp benefits for the elderly, but admitted the idea had been suggested. The New York Times reported the Food and Nutrition Service, seeking ways to curb food stamp outlays, has recommended a change that would cut benefits for people between ages 60 and 64. The head of a nutrition advocacy group denounced such proposals to change federal food programs, ar guing they would leave some of the nation's poorest citizens without food. The Times said the administra tion also is considering a proposal to eliminate meal subsidies for orphanages, homes for mentally retarded children and other residential institutions for child care. The ideas are described in confidential 1984 budget documents and porary difficulties." The study involved all children and adolescents who at- tempted suicide and were treated at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto between Jan. 1, 1970, and Jan. 30, 1977. It compared backgrounds with a control group of children admitted to the same emergency room for medical reasons. The study found youth suicide attempts were six to eight times more prevalent in families with a suicide his- chil-dren- tory than in the control group. It also found suicide were absent," he said. "It really stresses the parents attempts occur generally at home, more often in the winter months, and in the after- need for communication with an adult. "It is recognizing the depressed young person, communicating effectively, and taking seriously what they say to us," Garfinkel said. "We also must educate young people in terms of not seeking nprmanent solutions to tem noon and evening hours. "It tells us at certain times of the year we have to bolster our resources to accomodate an unusual number of depressed. Whether it is cabin fever, etc., we don't know," said Garfinkel. Drug overdoses from hold pain relievers usually house- were the primary means for the attempt in 87.9 percent of the cases. "1 think it reflects the availability and the quantities of household pain relievers available," said Garfinkel. "Normally, we buy them in quantities of 59 or 100, but use only one or two at a time." The results "highlight the need for direct intervention and education for families. Parents must be able to recognize the early signs of depression and be knowledgea- ble about their children's ocvitities and use of all medications in their homes," the study said. Other researchers in the project were Dr. Art Froese after-scho- of Queens University in Ontario, and student Jane Hood of York University in sav. west of FaM Food Stamps Won't be Cut Aide Says - a report percent more mothers working full time. mother working full time may be less available at the time the child needs her support and guidance." the study said. One of the authors, Dr. Barry D. Garfinkel, a psychiatrist at Bradley Hospital in East Providence, said parents must be more alert to symptoms of clinicaUdepres-sio- n s' and must take their problems more seriously. "More than half of the families had an absent parent, and in a quarter of them, both I VWJL IJK r - 1 I -- iJUJ when you LS Garden Tractor buy both the and our Steel Snow Thrower V7 18-H- P Wheel weights and chains priced extra they will not necessarily be presented to Congress by President Reagan in his next spending proposal, the newspaper said. "The New York Times was basing its article on an outdated memo which was circulated in the government," deputy White House press secretary Larry Speakes said. "The proposals do not reflect administration policies ... and the Agriculture Department policy. The White House has given the Agriculture Department no indication of its views," he said. "Some of these proposals were rejected and some are before the SAVE $ H Light-weig- Office of Management and Budget," Speakes said. "The White House has taken no position on them." Speakes said he believes "the president would come down pretty transaxle lets you select Garden Tractor. from three speed ranges, then speed up or slow down by a push or pull on just one lever attachments remain engine, operating at full power. P Van-Dri- 18-H- hard on those who would submit suggestions on that." About 20 million people now get assistance under the food stamp program, which was budgeted for nearly $11 billion in 1983. The Times said some 400,000 receipients are aged 60 to 64. Nancy Amidei of the Food Research and Action Center criticized suggested cuts, complaining that they would "take food away from orphans and widows." She cited Agriculture Department statistics that list the average gross monthly income of food stamp families with no elderly members at $354. Food stamp households with at least one member over age 60 had monthly incomes of $329, she said. "They're having a hard enough time now," she said. If the proposals were implemented, Ms. Amidei said, "Obviously, these people are not going to be able to feed themselves. ... I have to assume they'll simply go without, and they'll waste away." electric start, dual WW99 twin-cylind- er Safety interlock system, tractor won't start unless key is turned, clutch is Thru Oct. air-clean- er. Snow thrower. Drum-typ- e auger, lift lever, adjustable skid shoes, adjustable chute. 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