Kathleen Companion

WASHINGTON The annual checkup of the government's big benefit programs for the elderly showed that the administration's sweeping health care overhaul will extend the life of the Medicare hospital insurance fund by 12 years. But officials are cautioning that the dramatic gain will depend on achieving significant savings in health care in coming years. The annual trustees report for Medicare and Social Security shows that the Medicare Hospital trust fund will not be exhausted until 2029, 12 years longer than estimated last year. That improvement was credited to the cost savings that will occur with the passage earlier this year of health care reform. The trustees say the recession has made the outlook for the Social Security trust fund worse in the near term, however. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. WASHINGTON (AP) Medicare and Social Security the foundation of a secure retirement are facing strains from an aging population and an economy that can't seem to get out of low gear. And despite assertions to the contrary by the Obama administration, the new health care law doesn't improve Medicare's solvency by much. As the government releases its annual financial checkup Wednesday on the two giant programs that support millions of middle-class retirees, the prognosis is guarded. Demand for services is going up, and income from payroll taxes can't keep pace. Meanwhile, the government has used trust fund surpluses to pay for other needs, leaving Medicare and Social Security with a pile of IOUs. Interest in the trustees' report is running high this year because it's expected to delve into the effects of the new federal health care law on Medicare. The report is being issued by three top administration officials, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. They will be joined by a fourth trustee, Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue, appointed to a six-year term in 2007 by former President George W. Bush. But the number-crunching and analysis are done by nonpartisan professionals at the Office of the Actuary, an obscure economic unit in the Health and Human Services Department that has a reputation for independence. To the consternation of White House officials, recent reports from that office have raised questions about the heath care law's impact on Medicare. An April 22 analysis pointed out that the highly touted gain of 12 years of additional solvency for Medicare from the health overhaul is largely an "appearance," stemming from how Medicare cuts are handled under federal accounting rules. Savings from those cuts would be used to finance coverage for the uninsured. "In practice, the improved (Medicare) financing cannot be simultaneously used to finance other federal outlays (such as the coverage expansions) and to extend the trust fund, despite the appearance of this result from the respective accounting conventions," the report said. A companion report concluded that some of the $575 billion in Medicare savings over 10 years "may be unrealistic" because future Congresses could be pressured to roll back cuts to providers in the health care law. The actuary's office also projected enrollment will plummet in popular private insurance plans offered through Medicare, as a result of cuts in the health care law. The picture for Social Security isn't encouraging, either. Last year, the trustees projected that Social Security would run out of money by 2037 unless Congress acts. Since then, the poor economy has increased pressure on the program's finances, as payroll taxes fell and the number of people applying for early retirement and disability benefits increased. For the first time since the 1980s, Social Security will pay out more money in benefits this year than it collects in payroll taxes, according to projections by the Congressional Budget Office. More than 53 million people receive Social Security. Retirement benefits average $1,100 a month, and disabled workers get an average of $1,065. Medicare covers more than 46 million retirees and disabled people. Social Security is financed by a 6.2 percent payroll tax on wages below $106,800. The tax is paid by workers and matched by employers. Medicare is financed by a mix of general revenues, payroll taxes and premiums paid by beneficiaries. The Social Security trust funds have built up a $2.5 trillion surplus over the past 25 years. But the federal government has borrowed that money over the years to spend on other programs. The government must now start borrowing money from public debt markets adding to annual budget deficits to repay Social Security. President Barack Obama has formed a bipartisan fiscal commission that is working on recommendations to improve government finances, including those for Social Security and Medicare. Seniors' groups are lobbying against benefit cuts, while conservatives say they will oppose tax increases, creating a difficult political environment for compromise. ___ Associated Press writer Stephen Ohlemacher contributed to this report.

An interactive approach to coaching from one of today's most forward-thinking leadership gurus John Zenger established himself as a top-tier leadership expert with his groundbreaking books The Extraordinary Leader and The Inspiring Leader. Now, he teams up with executive coach Kathleen Stinnett to put you on the fast track to expertise in business coaching. The Extraordinary Coach works as an immersion course in coaching, providing the skills you need to become a highly effective leader in no time flat. As with his other books, Zenger researched thousands of assessments from the most effective coaches. Then he and Stinnett combined the research with the latest findings from the world of clinical psychology to map out the real success secrets of today's best coaches. This practical, multi-layered training guide provides the tools you need, including: Companion Video (on their website) showing coaching in action Conversation Guide offering framework for any possible scenario Application Worksheets to help prepare yourself for upcoming coaching situations List of Questions to ask in their own coaching conversations Building a firm foundation in the correlation between coaching effectiveness and employee engagement, you will quickly and effectively master the critical skill of coaching. The Extraordinary Coach will ensure you make a powerful contribution to the long-term success of your organization.

Facebook prides itself on being a data-driven company, but when Kathleen Pedersen, a business operations specialist for the company, traveled to a regional office in Dublin, Ireland, managers there complained of being starved for the information they ...

Kathleen "Kate" Ryan McGuire ... She earned her license as a real estate agent and was employed by Schweppe and Company Realty. Mrs. McGuire then formed a small business restoring old houses in Montclair, a firm which she ran for many years.

The company’s own annual report to shareholders listed Gingrich ... it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.

T-Mobile's vice president of federal regulatory affairs, Kathleen Ham, has issued a statement calling ... Ham's statement, however, suggests the company is pushing to ensure that it will have a chance to license even more spectrum as it comes ...

NORWOOD - Prudential Galaxy Real Estate recently recognized Kathleen "Kathy" Carver as the Associate ... Prudential Galaxy Real Estate recently celebrated the holidays at a company dinner where Broker Paul Van Dyke addressed his top agents ...

Bethany (Kathleen Fletcher) plays a 15-month pregnant lady who ... Gary Jaffe's direction is great, based on the strength of Fletcher's work. This Tutto Theatre Company show provides an evening of goofy, quirky entertainment.

That was until they found out the company allegedly betrayed that trust. A federal indictment accused the owners of taking millions from investors. "There are unfortunately bad apples in any industry," said financial advisor Kathleen Godfrey of ...

Kathleen "KD" Durham spent most of her professional career ... world who have earned the certified professional organizer title. Aside from Durham's company, NAPO's website lists nearly 200 organizers in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C ...

Easton withdrew due to a scheduling conflict. The production, which also stars Kathleen Chalfant and Kate Turnbull, will begin previews Feb. 14 with an official opening March 6. Keen Company artistic director Carl Forsman will stage the 1983 play.

"He wanted the company to last and provide jobs and serve customers forever," he said. "And that's what we're going to try to do." In addition to Pat, his wife of 54 years, survivors include daughters Mary DePrey, Therese Koller and Kathleen Zimmermann ...