MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'agencies'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:21:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125720&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPNFMyAbivyw%2F By Mark A. CalabriaIt’s a little too early to really tell what is going on here, but it certainly looks suspicious to me that a week after the rating agency Standard &Poor’s downgraded the U.S. government, we now have the Securities and Exchange Commission starting an insider-trading investigation of who inside S&P worked on the downgrade.  This comes on top of an announced Senate probe into S&P’s decision. I’ve long argued for reducing the role and influence of the rating agencies when it comes to financial regulation.  One of the few things the Dodd-Frank Act got correct was pushing for a reduction in regulators’ reliance on the rating agencies.  But still, it is nothing short of hypocritical for the same parties who complained that the agenci... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125720 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:53:37 +0100 5125720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103326&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FuHWTMteFnt0%2F By Caleb O. Brown… which makes this video out of date by about 20 minutes, but it’s instructive nonetheless. U.S. Credit Rating Downgraded by S&P is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103326 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:36:50 +0100 5103326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615084&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fh_cThbDxNkw%2F By Ilya ShapiroThere is a growing trend among federal agencies and courts to incrementally expand the government’s enforcement power by adopting statutory interpretations that go beyond their plain meaning and intent. National Corn Growers v. EPA exemplifies such government overreach. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Environmental Protection Agency establishes limits, or “tolerances,” for pesticide residues on food.  If a pesticide residue exceeds an established tolerance it is deemed “unsafe” and the product is removed from interstate commerce—effectively banned from use. The EPA must modify or revoke a tolerance it deems unsafe through a “notice and comment” process.  Both the FFDCA and its implementing regulations require the EPA to hold a public e... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615084 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:57:52 +0100 4615084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482825&cid=t_142634_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F15%2Fthe-psychology-of-advertising%2F How often have you seen a teeth-whitening ad that shows the person with bright, white teeth as more attractive — sexier even? Or viewed an ad for a green cleaning product that made you fearful that using a chemical product would harm your kids? Or just think of any product — diet food, skin care, insurance company, car, medication — that features celebrity testimonials or the words of other consumers who’ve achieved “incredible results.” For these common advertising ploys, you can thank John B. Watson, the founder of behaviorism here in America. After getting fired from his academic post at Johns Hopkins, Watson began working for one of the biggest advertising agencies in New York City, J. Walter Thompson. (He was dismissed for his scandalous divorce. Short story: He fell in lo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482825 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:00:37 +0100 4482825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300538&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FragwRUADhy8%2F By David RittgersThat’s the only message I can take away from the ATF proposal to require Federal Firearm License (FFL) holders to report the sale of two or more semiautomatic rifles that accept detachable magazines in states along the border with Mexico. In other words, this is gun control for the sake of Mexico. Thing is, the proposal breaks the law. The ATF doesn’t have the authority to do this. As David Hardy notes at Of Arms & the Law: There are several violations of the Gun Control Act, as amended by the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act. First, 18 USC §926(b) provides “The Attorney General shall give not less than ninety days public notice, and shall afford interested parties opportunity for hearing, before prescribing such rules and regulations.” This is str... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300538 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:12:40 +0100 4300538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036719&cid=t_142634_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F06%2Fchild-protective-services-ineffective%2F How effective is your local child protective services department? You know, that agency which is charged in protecting the health and well-being of children in your community. Child protective services are not very effective at all, at least when it comes to specific risk factors that could improve a child’s well-being and mental health. In a nationwide study that examined children in 595 families over a period of 9 years, researchers discovered that in the households where child abuse was substantiated by evidence, risk factors remained unchanged during followup interviews with the families. The risk factors are considered “modifiable” risk factors — those things which could be changed to enhance the health and well-being of the child. They include things such a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036719 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:05:56 +0100 4036719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920827&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmipidtQECHg%2F By Jim HarperH.R. 3421, the “Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009,” has nothing to do with relieving people of medical debts. It adds to the list of information credit reporting agencies may not communicate to their clients. Current law bars credit bureaus from sharing truthful information about bankruptcies occuring more than ten years in the past, and lawsuits, judgments, tax liens, accounts placed in collection, or other adverse information more than seven years old, except in certain high-dollar credit transactions. This bill would add a new item to the list of officially banned information: medical debts that have been paid more than thirty days before a credit report is issued. There are many cases, of course, where people who incur medical debts deserve our sympathy. But do ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920827 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:43:59 +0100 3920827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3757852&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsaYXyH9Fags%2F By Michael F. CannonChristopher Weaver of Kaiser Health News has an excellent article in today’s Washington Post on the various government agencies that will now be deciding what health insurance coverage you must purchase, and how many of those decisions will ultimately fall to lobbyists and politicians: For years, an obscure federal task force sifted through medical literature on colonoscopies, prostate-cancer screening and fluoride treatments, ferreting out the best evidence for doctors to use in caring for their patients. But now its recommendations have financial implications, raising the stakes for patients, doctors and others in the health-care industry. Under the new health-care overhaul law, health insurers will be required to pay fully for services that get an A or B recomm... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3757852 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:32:20 +0100 3757852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603577&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FI1Ibu4PyRp4%2F By Tad DeHavenAnalysts across the ideological spectrum generally agree that the government’s regulatory bodies fail far too frequently. However, analysts seem to learn different lessons from this experience. Washington Post business columnist Steve Pearlstein cites numerous examples of failure and concludes, “It’s time for the business community to give up its jihad against regulation.” He says: It hardly captures the breadth and depth of these regulatory failures to say that during the Bush administration the pendulum swung a bit too far in the direction of deregulation and lax enforcement. What it misses is just how dramatically the regulatory agencies have been shrunken in size, stripped of talent and resources, demoralized by lousy leadership, captured by the industries the... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603577 Wed, 26 May 2010 19:07:15 +0100 3603577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581594&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3I-I2Gj3jkY%2F By Julian SanchezAs Jeff Stein notes over at the Washington Post, the declassified summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the Christmas underpants bomber ought to sound awfully familiar to anyone who thumbed through the 9/11 Commission’s massive analysis of intelligence failures. Of the 14 points of failure identified by the Senate, one pertains to a failure of surveillance acquisition: the understandably vague claim that NSA “did not pursue potential collection opportunities,” which it’s impossible to really evaluate without more information. (Marc Ambinder tries to fill in some of the gaps at The Atlantic.)  The other 13 echo that old refrain: Lots of data points, nobody managing to connect them. Problems included myopic analysis—folks l... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581594 Wed, 19 May 2010 18:19:58 +0100 3581594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552193&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fleaders-of-discredited-financial-rating.html This is the latest in our informal series on the cross-linkages between the thinking and leadership that lead to the global financial collapse/ great recession and that current in health care.  Last month, a US Senate sub-committee held hearings on the role of the rating agencies, actually for-profit corporations that evaluated securities, including derivatives, in the collapse.  The Fundamentally Conflicted Rating AgenciesTo briefly provide some background, these agencies were hired by the firms that created these securities to evaluate them.  Because the securities were complex, they were hard for investors to evaluate.  Investors had become used to using the rating agencies' evaluations as benchmarks for the quality and riskiness of complex securities.  Many did... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552193 Mon, 10 May 2010 20:45:00 +0100 3552193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2989404&cid=t_142634_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fzswmw_VDGYI%2F The health care reform bill passed by the House would force drugmakers to disclose how much they spend on continuing medical education classes for docs, although the Senate version doesn’t include such a requirement, according to The Wall Street Journal. The paper notes this comes as for-profit CME firms experience falling revenue. The Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, meanwhile, is investigating industry-funded CME, the Journal continues, and John Kamp, who heads the Coalition for Healthcare Communication, wrote Kohl the committee “should consider elimination of certified CME reporting in all versions of health-care reform bills because they are unneeded, redundant and needlessly expensive.” The group is sponsored by the American Association of Advertising Agen... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2989404 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:43:03 +0100 2989404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715917&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2q181XaxYk4%2F I was never a fan of Dick Cheney’s one percent doctrine. According to Ron Suskind, after 9/11 Cheney explained to law enforcement and intelligence officials that they should treat even the one percent chance of a terrorist attack as a mathematical certainty. The particular case was of a Pakistani nuclear scientist helping al-Qaeda to acquire a nuclear bomb, but the standard became a shorthand for U.S. counterterror efforts generally. No scale of effort would be too great. Better to chase down 100 leads, 99 of which turn out to be bogus, because finding just that one nugget would have been worth the level of effort. Now we have evidence that the federal government is chasing down far more than 99 blind alleys for just one lead. From today’s front-page story in the New York... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715917 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:03:09 +0100 2715917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605943&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fid-1khc1UNI%2F Earlier this week, SEC Chair Mary Shapiro appeared before Congress to suggest ways to fix the failings in our credit rating agencies.   Sadly her proposals miss the market, although that shouldn’t be so surprising as her suggestions appear to rest upon a misunderstanding of the problem. The thrust of the SEC’s current approach is more disclosure, such as releasing “pre-ratings” that debt issuers may get before final issuance.  Additional disclosure of ratings methodology and assumptions is likely to be useless.  Almost all that information was available during the building housing bubble.  The problem is that the rating agencies had little incentive to go beyond the consensus forecasts of increasing to at most modest declines in home prices.  These same assum... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605943 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:27:44 +0100 2605943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601992&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2009%2F07%2Fcommentology-home-health-agencies.html THCB reader Tony writes in to ask, How much do home health agencies charge? I don`t want to rush into anything so I was hoping you could give me some ideas as to what to avoid. Thank you very much. (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601992 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2601992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441180&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0fd4uSiEySI%2F The Cato Institute media department sent this press release to media outlets in Latin America, after the Venezuelan government tried to shut down a Cato-sponsored conference this week: CAUCAGUA, VENEZUELA—A Cato Institute educational seminar fell victim to an attempt by the Venezuelan government to shut it down for expressing ideas critical of the Chavez regime. Numerous Venezuelan government agencies harassed the Cato Institute event, called Universidad El Cato-CEDICE, or “Cato University,” which took place in Caucagua, Venezuela May 24-26. The event is co-sponsored by the Venezuelan free-market think tank Centro de Divulgación del Conocimiento Económico por la Libertad (CEDICE) and was organized to teach and promote the classical liberal principles of limited government, individu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441180 Wed, 27 May 2009 18:05:43 +0100 2441180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416790&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=37069&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolicymed.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fhhs-and-nih-propose-changes-to-conflict-of-interest-policy.html The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released a proposal for new guidelines regarding public health service (PHS) funding disclosure policy’s concerning research.   The Department Issued an Advanced Notice of Public Rule Making.  The nature of this information, which was conveyed through a federal register, was to ask for comments on how these ‘new’ guidelines should be crafted.   Interestingly, NIH cites recent “public scrutiny” as a reason for addressing this issue, just as it has gained momentum in medical schools and professional associations.   They also suggest the need to revise these policies because researchers are now frequently working in multidisciplinary teams to develop ... Policy and Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416790 Mon, 18 May 2009 10:25:48 +0100 2416790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380723&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2KQzpZhQZ6E%2F Unlike with wiretaps, law enforcement agents are not required by federal statutes to obtain search warrants before employing pen registers or trap and trace devices. These devices record non-content information regarding telephone calls and Internet communications. (Of course, “non-content information” has quite a bit of content - who is talking to whom, how often, and for how long.) The Electronic Privacy Information Center points out in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) that the Department of Justice has consistently failed to report on the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices as required by law: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act requires the Attorney General to “annually report to Congress on the number of pen regis... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380723 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:37:48 +0100 2380723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2157160&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=37069&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolicymed.com%2F2009%2F02%2Ffda-panel-votes-for-approval-prasugrel-smooth-sailing-from-here.html In a unanimous decision this evening the Cardio Renal Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to approve prasugrel for patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.  This is a good sign that the FDA is finally approving drugs again.   This drug was not without critics but for an unanimous vote even the representative from the generally anti industry Consumers Union for approval. This does not mean that the FDA will automatically go with the recommendations of the panel but that is almost always the case especially with a positive staff review and an unanimous vote of the advisory committee. This is very good news from the FDA given that they have missed two deadlines on approval for this drug.  This may be a signal that with the new administratio... Policy and Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2157160 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:35:21 +0100 2157160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2101642&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=37069&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolicymed.com%2F2009%2F01%2Ffda-vytorin-scare-a-false-alarm.html After a one year safety review of Vytorin the FDA announced that patients should stay on Vytorin therapy. According to the FDA – they have completed its one year review of the final clinical study report of ENHANCE.  Following two years of treatment, carotid artery thickness increased by 0.011 mm in the Vytorin group and by 0.006 mm in the simvastatin group. The difference in the changes in carotid artery thickness between the two groups was not statistically significant.  However, the levels of LDL cholesterol decreased by 56% in the Vytorin group and decreased by 39% in the simvastatin group. The difference in the reductions in LDL cholesterol between the two groups was statistically significant. The results from ENHANCE do not change FDA’s position that an elevated LD... Policy and Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2101642 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:44:02 +0100 2101642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098254&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=37069&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolicymed.com%2F2009%2F01%2Foig-release-report-on-clinical-investigators-financial-information.html According to the OIG the FDA needs to do a better job in collecting and evaluating financial conflict of interest information from clinical investigators.   The OIG looked at the records of all 118 marketing applications approved by the FDA in 2007. The OIG pointed out that: One percent of clinical investigators disclosed a financial interest.   Among clinical investigators listed in financial forms, 1 percent disclosed at least one financial interest. This represents 206 of the 29,691 clinical investigators listed in financial interest forms. Of these 206 clinical investigators, almost all disclosed only one financial interest, with a few disclosing two or three financial interests.   FDA cannot determine whether sponsors have submitted financial information for al... Policy and Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098254 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:32:22 +0100 2098254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939690&cid=t_142634_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F444316310%2F A dreary day here in the nation’s medicine chest. Yet our spirits are high. And why not? As the morning mayor used to say: Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift. So grab a cup of stimulation and get started on the routine. Have a nice day, everyone… Mayo Clinic Cuts Clinical Trial Biz (Rochester Post-Bulletin) Teva Profit Rises On Higher Sales (Yahoo/Reuters) J&J Consolidates Ad Agencies For Drug Biz (BrandWeek) King Pharma Financials Beat Estimates (Yahoo/Reuters) Fatal Gas Explosion At New Glaxo Site (The Telegraph) Barr Pharma Adjusted Profit Rises (MarketWatch) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939690 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:24:38 +0100 1939690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689327&cid=t_142634_87_f&fid=37069&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.policymed.com%2F2008%2F08%2Ffda----new-coi.html This Week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Announced New Rules for Conduct and Conflict of Interest of Advisory Committees: Conflict of Interest: ·         If an individual, his spouse, or minor child has potentially conflicting financial interests totaling more than $50,000, he or she would not be allowed to participate in that meeting.  ·         The guidance specifies four scenarios where the conflict is significant and FDA does not intend to issue a waiver, even if the potential personal conflict is below $50,000.  (For example, if the advisor is the principal investigator of a clinical trial of a product about which the committee will be providing advice, the advisor will not be allowed to participate ... Policy and Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689327 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:40:35 +0100 1689327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1403033&cid=t_142634_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fhealth-centrals-careconnectioncom.html HealthCentral.com provides a huge network of healthcare sites, including CareConnection.com for caregivers support, education, and resources. Some of the experts featured include the following: (1) Suzanne Mintz, award-winning president and co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association(2) Internationally known author, speaker, songwriter, and expert Cheryl Gartley. Cheryl is co-founder of "Label Me Not" and co-author of the anti-stigma song "I Am More." She is the President and Founder of The Simon Foundation for Continence, and has been featured in magazines such as TIME, and Good Housekeeping.Cheryl writes posts at CareConnection.com that deal with living with conditions that have a stigma in society. (3) Internationally known speaker, attorney, author, and expert on aging, ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1403033 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:28:00 +0100 1403033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=984062&cid=t_142634_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fcaregivers-and-seniors-can-use-music.html At Holistic Online the page on Music Therapy explains techniques to use when listening to music for stress reduction. The website explains that listening to music has been found to help with the following: (1) reduce heart rates (if it's slow music), (2) increase the body's serotonin to fight depression, (3) increase deep breathing (which reduces stress), and (4) to reduce pain. To make the most of Music Therapy the website advises listening to music with a rythm that is slower than the natural heartbeat of 72 beats per minute. Stretch out in a comfy position and take a 20 minute "sound bath."Choose music that you like, perhaps something familiar that reminds you of pleasant times. Some people listen to favorite music from childhood. Holistic Online says that listening to familiar favorite... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=984062 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:23:00 +0100 984062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814370&cid=t_142634_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fagencies-vs-independent-caregivers.html http://www.eldercare.com/ has a page that compares the pros and cons of hiring a caregiver agency versus hiring an independent caregiver.The article explains that an agency will hire and supervise the worker, assume liability, have a back up system of workers if the regular one can't be there, and take care of payroll.The cost per hour or shift is higher when using an agency, and there may be less flexibility regarding the type of tasks the caregiver is allowed to perform.According to the article, hiring an independent caregiver will have a lower cost, the tasks can be directed to meet your needs, and sometimes room and board can be traded for caregiver time.In addition to the pros the cons include that you will be responsible for locating and hiring workers, doing background checks, takin... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814370 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:20:00 +0100 814370