Hi again from Elaine Steward! Following, is my most recent list of things which may be of general interest to us retirees. If you find a really interesting site, please email suggestions to me at esslady@gmail.com.
Visit AARP’s Health Care Reform update on www.AARP.org and learn about the latest news on reform, as well as helpful tools to keep you in the loop.
Once one has set up a personal account on the Medicare site, there is a program where one can authorize another person to have access to his/her personal health information. The form can be found at www.medicare.gov. Go to forms and select “Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information.” The form must be filled out, signed, and mailed to initiate this authorization. FYI, there’s also a place to insert contact information for the person with one’s health care directive. The site is actually quite powerful. I recommend that everyone set up a personal account. (They have our SS#s anyway...;-))
For information on the seven most common scams which target seniors, go to www.walletpop.com/retirement-guide/article/seven-top-scams-that-target-seniors/813319
For information on drugs, including herbals, go to www.peoplespharmacy.com/about
If you are having trouble remembering to take your meds, you can get text message (to your cell phone) or email reminders by establishing a FREE account at secure.medactionplan.com/index The reminders work for those of us whose dosages per drug remain constant from day-to-day.
To save money, become a grocery store “perimeter shopper,” avoiding the center aisles that are full of sugar, processed foods, and unhealthy snacks. Almost everything you need is around the perimeter of most grocery stores—produce, bread, milk, and meat.
To coordinate rides, bringing meals, etc for someone in need, set up a calendar on www.lotsahelpinghands.com Someone sets up a needs calendar for the person needing help and folks sign up to do what they can. The FREE service sends e-reminders to the volunteer.
[A] free online service www.CalQualityCare.org rates the care provided by California nursing homes, hospice programs, and home health agencies, where data is available to evaluate performance. The site also provides information on many other kinds of long term care, such as assisted living, retirement communities, and day care. CalQualityCare features an easy-to-use "Long Term Care Assistant" tool that helps consumers choose among care options by posing ten simple questions.
Roadwise Review Online is a FREE screening tool developed by AAA to help seniors measure certain mental and physical abilities important for safe driving. In as little as 30 minutes, you can identify and get further guidance on the physical and mental skills that need improvement. Go to www.seniordrivers.org/driving/driving.cfm?button=roadwiseonline
1) From AARP – bulletin.aarp.org
To evaluate whether it makes more sense to repair or replace an item, go to
http://www.aarp.org/money/consumer/savings_challenge/articles/repair_or_replace.html
2) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org
Governor To Unveil Budget Plan Today, Health Care Cuts Likely [11 Jan], Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is scheduled to release a budget plan that likely will include deep cuts to health care and social service programs, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Schwarzenegger Urges 'No' Vote on Reform In his state of the state speech, Gov. Schwarzenegger spoke out against health care reform legislation moving through Congress and urged the state's delegation to reject the bill or incorporate better terms for California.
H1N1 Vaccine More Widely Available Throughout Calif. In a conference call [7 Jan], Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, said that the state has received about 15 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine, meaning that most jurisdictions should have enough vaccine doses to inoculate the general public. Horton urged the public to continue to be vaccinated because a third wave of H1N1 still is possible.
Immigration Provisions Loom Over Efforts To Merge Reform Bills The House bill (HR 3962) would open up proposed health insurance exchanges to immigrants but would provide federal subsidies only to people whose U.S. citizenship could be verified.
By comparison, the Senate bill (HR 3590) would limit access to plans offered through the health insurance exchanges to people whose U.S. citizenship could be verified. President Obama supports the Senate's tighter citizenship requirements for plans offered through the exchanges.
Obama Meets With House Democrats, Voices Support for Excise Tax President Obama met with congressional Democratic leaders for a second day [the week of 4 Jan] in hopes of advancing work on health care reform legislation in Congress. The president indicated support for an excise tax on high-value health plans, an idea House Democrats have opposed. Wall Street Journal et al.
Calif. Reps Lead the Fight Against Interstate Sales of Health Plans Twenty-nine California representatives and two others are urging congressional leaders to abandon provisions of health care reform legislation that would allow insurers to sell policies across state lines. The representatives argue the provision will let insurers sidestep strong consumer protection laws in 17 states by basing their plans in states with weaker laws. Los Angeles Times, Washington Post.
3) From iHealthBeat - www.ihealthbeat.org
Physician Resistance Stands in the Way of Telemedicine New York Times columnist Pauline Chen writes that despite the potential benefits of telemedicine, physicians have been reluctant to embrace the technology because of concerns that telemedicine will have a negative effect on the doctor-patient relationship. New York Times.
HHS Plans To Examine Privacy of De-Identified Patient Information HHS plans to hire a contractor to study whether patient data that have been de-identified under the HIPAA privacy rule can be re-identified and matched to a specific individual. The federal government's push for electronic health records has sparked privacy concerns about patient data. Washington Technology.
EHRs Not Living Up to Policymakers' Vision for Care Coordination A new Center for Studying Health System Change study finds that commercial electronic health records can facilitate care coordination within a practice by making data available at the point of care but are less useful for coordinating care across different settings. Healthcare IT News, Modern Healthcare.
OptumHealth Launching Online Physician Consultation Service
[In 2010], OptumHealth, a division of UnitedHealth Group, will offer a nationwide service that lets patients consult with doctors using video chat. Proponents of the technology say it will help address the country's physician shortage and increase patients' access to health care. New York Times.
Proposal To Ban Rx Data Mining Unlikely To Make Final Senate Reform Bill [On 14 Dec 09] a Senate staff member said a proposal offered last week to ban prescription drug data mining for marketing purposes is unlikely to be included in the Senate's final health care reform bill. Drugmakers and the American Medical Association support prescription data mining. Reuters.
4) From My Medicare Matters – www.mymedicarecommunity.org
My Medicare Matters offers Webinars (live on-line training) for those who are Medicare advocates. If you are interested in being notified of training sessions, please contact me at esslady@gmail.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
Dixie Hartman's "Good-Good" Cookie Recipe
Mix together:
- 1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Imperial Margarine (2 sticks)
1 cup Wesson Oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg (beaten)
Add:
- 3-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda (NOT baking powder)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup crushed corn flakes
1 cup oats (uncooked)
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts (any kind)
Drop by teaspoon-fulls onto greased cookie sheet;
mash a little with a fork;
bake about 12 minutes in a 375 degree oven;
remove from cookie sheet and immediately sprinkle with powdered sugar.
NOTE: Recipe provided courtesy of Janette C. Brown.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Second Annual Emeriti Center Executive Committee Holiday Luncheon
The Executive Committee once again devoured Maricela Hinojosa's delicious chicken quesadilla (below) served with tossed green salad, rice, and tortillas and salsa. Those feasting after the regularly scheduled meeting of December 14, 2009, were Janette Brown, Austyn Castro, Natalie Cohen, Judy Diaz, Art Donovan, Jessica Gima, Carole Gustin, John Hisserich, Gloria Reyes, Bob Scales, Bob Stallings, Mitzi Tsujimoto, and Jerry Walker.
The "spread."
Maricela serves up a helping of her scrumptious chicken quesadilla.
Art Donovan, John Hisserich, and Natalie Cohen chow down.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
From the Web #11 by Elaine Steward
Hi again from Elaine Steward! Following is my most recent list of things which seem to be of general interest to us retirees. If you find a really interesting site, please email suggestions to me at esslady@gmail.com.
To see whether you can save money by switching your 2010 Medicare Part D plan, go to www.cvs.com/medicare for a helpful calculator.
On the same note, go to doughnuthole.aarp.org for AARP's doughnut hole calculator. It's kind of hard to enter drugs and dosages, but I recommend that one persevere in order to assess alternatives to entering the doughnut hole.
If any of you had a 2009 Minimum Required Distribution generated automatically, you may qualify to reverse it. For instructions, go to: personal.fidelity.com/misc.
Visit AARP's Health Care Reform update on www.AARP.org and learn about the latest news on reform, as well as helpful tools to keep you in the loop.
For surprising findings about exercise and bone density, go to well.blogs.nytimes.com.
For an EXCELLENT on-line driver safety course (available to AARP Members), which may just yield savings on your auto insurance, go to www.aarpdriversafety.org.
Once one has set up a personal account on the Medicare site, there is a program where one can authorize another person to have access to his/her personal health information. The form can be found at www.medicare.gov. Go to forms and select "Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information." The form must be filled out, signed, and mailed to initiate this authorization. FYI, there's also a place to insert contact information for the person with one's health care directive. The site is actually quite powerful. I recommend that everyone set up a personal account. (They have our SS#s anyway...;-))
If you have books, CDs, or DVDs which you would like to swap, check out www.Paperbackswap.com, www.SwapaCD.com, and www.SwapaDVD.com.
1) From AARP – bulletin.aarp.org:
If you are confused about how Medicare Part D works, go to bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare.
2) From Aging in Stride – www.aginginstride.org:
For help in avoiding complications of diabetes, check out enews.aginginstride.org.
3) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org:
Proposed Excise Tax Could Prompt Changes to Benefits
A proposal in the Senate health care reform bill (HR 3590) to impose an excise tax on high-cost health insurance plans would push two-thirds of employers to change their benefits packages to avoid the tax, according to a new survey from Mercer. A separate analysis from the consulting firm projects that 19% of benefits packages offered by employers in 2013 would be subject to the tax.
Senate Bill Could Dilute Consumer Protections by Creating Interstate Market for Health Plans
California Medical Association Won't Support Senate Reform Bill [On 2 Dec] the California Medical Association [came] out against the Senate health care reform bill (HR 3590) because it says the measure would raise local health care costs and hinder access to care for seniors and low-income patients, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports.
New Analysis Finds Wide Disparities in Quality of U.S. Nursing Home Care
Long-term care quality ratings vary widely among different institutions across the country, according to a Scripps Howard News Service analysis of CMS' Nursing Home Compare system, SHNS/Ventura County Star reports.
Report: Senate Reform Bill Won't Increase Costs for Most People
A Congressional Budget Office report released on [30 Nov] found that under the Senate health reform bill, premiums would be unchanged or slightly lower for most U.S. residents, while a small minority would see premium increases, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery, Washington Post, 12/1).
Reform Could Push Calif. To Reconsider Malpractice Cap
The House health care reform bill (HR 3962) includes a provision that would "push—but not quite compel" California and other states that have capped medical malpractice awards to repeal the caps, columnist Dan Walters writes. The Senate has not included such a provision, and resolving the difference in conference committee could be a "major issue" if the Senate passes its reform bill, according to Walters.
Senate Plan for High-Risk Pools Has Pluses, Minuses for California
According to the HHS report, enacting reform proposals would provide an immediate opportunity for many medically uninsurable Californians to get coverage. Under Section 1101 of the Senate proposal, the newly created high-risk pool would be open to people with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months. The program would end by Jan. 1, 2014, when new health insurance exchanges are slated to be up and running.
Federal Law on Genetic Non-Discrimination Swings Into Effect
A federal law took effect [21 Nov] that prohibits employer discrimination based on genetic information, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Web Site Offers Ratings on Long-Term Care Providers
On [19 Nov] the California HealthCare Foundation launched a no-cost Web site, www.CalQualityCare.org, that rates the state's residential nursing homes, home health agencies and hospices. The ratings are based on data from state and federal agencies on staffing levels, quality of care and reported deficiencies. CHCF is the publisher of California Healthline.
California Ranks in the Middle of the Pack for National Health Scores
California ranked as the 23rd healthiest state in the nation in a report released Tuesday, the San Francisco Business Times reports. The ranking is one place higher than California's score last year.
Los Angeles County To Send At-Risk Patients to Certified Stroke Centers
On [16 Nov] Los Angeles County launched a new program that will route individuals experiencing stroke symptoms to the nearest certified stroke center, the Los Angeles Times reports.
4) From Carepages – www.carepages.com:
For suggestions on how to distribute family heirlooms, go to cms.carepages.com/permalink.
5) From iHealthBeat – www.ihealthbeat.org:
Seniors Who Use [the] Internet Could Reap Health Benefits, Studies Show
According to research released in October, spending time online reduces depression and increases cognitive brain function among senior citizens. A study conducted by Washington, D.C.,-based Phoenix Center found that spending time online reduces depression by 20 percent for senior citizens.
HHS To Award $235M To Boost Local Models for EHR Adoption
On [2 Dec] HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the launch of a $235 million initiative to support community-based models for electronic health record adoption, Federal Computer Week reports (Lipowicz, Federal Computer Week, 12/2).
New Social Networking Site Targets Those With Mental Health Issues
The Mental Health Social site allows users to connect anonymously with other people who have similar mental health conditions. It also aims to promote discussions among family members and others who care for people with mental illnesses. Go to: www.mentalhealthsocial.com.
Ohio Health Plans Offer Members Access to Online Medical Bill Tool
The program collects health care providers' health insurance claims and translates the medical codes and jargon into understandable language. The software explains how much a physician charged, what the health plan paid and what the consumer owes. The online tool lets consumers keep track of past bills, their deductibles and co-insurances paid for them and their dependents. The software also offers advice on how to handle questions about billings.
Kaiser Permanente Teams Up With VA To Link EHR Systems
[On 25 Nov] officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Kaiser Permanente are scheduled to announce a pilot program that will link their electronic health record systems for eligible members in San Diego County, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Researchers Urge FDA To Create Database To Monitor Rx Drug Safety
The researchers write that the database could continuously pool and aggregate information from clinical trials to create a real-time picture of a drug's benefits and risks. They said officials should strive to make the database publicly available for consumers, physicians and researchers.
Federal Government Announces Launch of New Health IT Blog
[On 23 Nov] HHS unveiled a new blog to help update the public on the work of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The Health IT Buzz blog also will provide a forum for consumers, health providers and others to share their input regarding health IT. Healthcare IT News, InformationWeek.
6) From My Medicare Matters – www.mymedicarecommunity.org:
My Medicare Matters offers Webinars (live on-line training) for those who are Medicare advocates. If you are interested in being notified of training sessions, please contact me at esslady@gmail.com.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched the plan finders for 2010 Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, making plan comparisons possible. Open enrollment ends for most people on 31 December.
The Rights of Members of Non-Renewing Medicare Plans: The Non-Renewal Special Enrollment Period
When a plan decides not to continue in the Medicare market the following year, all current members are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to switch to a new plan, beginning on Oct. 1, 2009 and continuing through Jan. 31, 2010.
7) From NCOA – www.ncoa.org:
CLASS Act Survives in Health Reform
An amendment offered by Sen. Thune (R-SD) that would have stripped the CLASS Act [which provides home health care services for seniors] from the Senate health care reform bill was defeated on [4 Dec].
Budget Ax Continues to Fall on State Aging Units
An alarming 96 percent of state units on aging located in states with budget shortfalls say their budgets have been reduced, according to a new report from the National Association of State Units on Aging. The survey documents the challenges facing these states as they struggle to serve an expanding population with diminished funding and resources.
To listen to a radio program about reverse mortgages, go to www.hereandnow.org.
For a volunteer leaders' blog, go to www.volunteerleaders.org.
Long-Term Care Costs on the Rise
From 2008 to 2009, private room nursing home rates rose 3.3 percent to $219 per day or $79,935 per year, MetLife reports in its latest market survey. Assisted living also rose 3.3 percent to $3,131 per month; home health care jumped 5 percent to $21 per hour; and adult day services increased 4.7 percent to $67 per day.
To see whether you can save money by switching your 2010 Medicare Part D plan, go to www.cvs.com/medicare for a helpful calculator.
On the same note, go to doughnuthole.aarp.org for AARP's doughnut hole calculator. It's kind of hard to enter drugs and dosages, but I recommend that one persevere in order to assess alternatives to entering the doughnut hole.
If any of you had a 2009 Minimum Required Distribution generated automatically, you may qualify to reverse it. For instructions, go to: personal.fidelity.com/misc.
Visit AARP's Health Care Reform update on www.AARP.org and learn about the latest news on reform, as well as helpful tools to keep you in the loop.
For surprising findings about exercise and bone density, go to well.blogs.nytimes.com.
For an EXCELLENT on-line driver safety course (available to AARP Members), which may just yield savings on your auto insurance, go to www.aarpdriversafety.org.
Once one has set up a personal account on the Medicare site, there is a program where one can authorize another person to have access to his/her personal health information. The form can be found at www.medicare.gov. Go to forms and select "Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information." The form must be filled out, signed, and mailed to initiate this authorization. FYI, there's also a place to insert contact information for the person with one's health care directive. The site is actually quite powerful. I recommend that everyone set up a personal account. (They have our SS#s anyway...;-))
If you have books, CDs, or DVDs which you would like to swap, check out www.Paperbackswap.com, www.SwapaCD.com, and www.SwapaDVD.com.
1) From AARP – bulletin.aarp.org:
If you are confused about how Medicare Part D works, go to bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare.
2) From Aging in Stride – www.aginginstride.org:
For help in avoiding complications of diabetes, check out enews.aginginstride.org.
3) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org:
Proposed Excise Tax Could Prompt Changes to Benefits
A proposal in the Senate health care reform bill (HR 3590) to impose an excise tax on high-cost health insurance plans would push two-thirds of employers to change their benefits packages to avoid the tax, according to a new survey from Mercer. A separate analysis from the consulting firm projects that 19% of benefits packages offered by employers in 2013 would be subject to the tax.
Senate Bill Could Dilute Consumer Protections by Creating Interstate Market for Health Plans
California Medical Association Won't Support Senate Reform Bill [On 2 Dec] the California Medical Association [came] out against the Senate health care reform bill (HR 3590) because it says the measure would raise local health care costs and hinder access to care for seniors and low-income patients, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports.
New Analysis Finds Wide Disparities in Quality of U.S. Nursing Home Care
Long-term care quality ratings vary widely among different institutions across the country, according to a Scripps Howard News Service analysis of CMS' Nursing Home Compare system, SHNS/Ventura County Star reports.
Report: Senate Reform Bill Won't Increase Costs for Most People
A Congressional Budget Office report released on [30 Nov] found that under the Senate health reform bill, premiums would be unchanged or slightly lower for most U.S. residents, while a small minority would see premium increases, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery, Washington Post, 12/1).
Reform Could Push Calif. To Reconsider Malpractice Cap
The House health care reform bill (HR 3962) includes a provision that would "push—but not quite compel" California and other states that have capped medical malpractice awards to repeal the caps, columnist Dan Walters writes. The Senate has not included such a provision, and resolving the difference in conference committee could be a "major issue" if the Senate passes its reform bill, according to Walters.
Senate Plan for High-Risk Pools Has Pluses, Minuses for California
According to the HHS report, enacting reform proposals would provide an immediate opportunity for many medically uninsurable Californians to get coverage. Under Section 1101 of the Senate proposal, the newly created high-risk pool would be open to people with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months. The program would end by Jan. 1, 2014, when new health insurance exchanges are slated to be up and running.
Federal Law on Genetic Non-Discrimination Swings Into Effect
A federal law took effect [21 Nov] that prohibits employer discrimination based on genetic information, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Web Site Offers Ratings on Long-Term Care Providers
On [19 Nov] the California HealthCare Foundation launched a no-cost Web site, www.CalQualityCare.org, that rates the state's residential nursing homes, home health agencies and hospices. The ratings are based on data from state and federal agencies on staffing levels, quality of care and reported deficiencies. CHCF is the publisher of California Healthline.
California Ranks in the Middle of the Pack for National Health Scores
California ranked as the 23rd healthiest state in the nation in a report released Tuesday, the San Francisco Business Times reports. The ranking is one place higher than California's score last year.
Los Angeles County To Send At-Risk Patients to Certified Stroke Centers
On [16 Nov] Los Angeles County launched a new program that will route individuals experiencing stroke symptoms to the nearest certified stroke center, the Los Angeles Times reports.
4) From Carepages – www.carepages.com:
For suggestions on how to distribute family heirlooms, go to cms.carepages.com/permalink.
5) From iHealthBeat – www.ihealthbeat.org:
Seniors Who Use [the] Internet Could Reap Health Benefits, Studies Show
According to research released in October, spending time online reduces depression and increases cognitive brain function among senior citizens. A study conducted by Washington, D.C.,-based Phoenix Center found that spending time online reduces depression by 20 percent for senior citizens.
HHS To Award $235M To Boost Local Models for EHR Adoption
On [2 Dec] HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the launch of a $235 million initiative to support community-based models for electronic health record adoption, Federal Computer Week reports (Lipowicz, Federal Computer Week, 12/2).
New Social Networking Site Targets Those With Mental Health Issues
The Mental Health Social site allows users to connect anonymously with other people who have similar mental health conditions. It also aims to promote discussions among family members and others who care for people with mental illnesses. Go to: www.mentalhealthsocial.com.
Ohio Health Plans Offer Members Access to Online Medical Bill Tool
The program collects health care providers' health insurance claims and translates the medical codes and jargon into understandable language. The software explains how much a physician charged, what the health plan paid and what the consumer owes. The online tool lets consumers keep track of past bills, their deductibles and co-insurances paid for them and their dependents. The software also offers advice on how to handle questions about billings.
Kaiser Permanente Teams Up With VA To Link EHR Systems
[On 25 Nov] officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Kaiser Permanente are scheduled to announce a pilot program that will link their electronic health record systems for eligible members in San Diego County, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Researchers Urge FDA To Create Database To Monitor Rx Drug Safety
The researchers write that the database could continuously pool and aggregate information from clinical trials to create a real-time picture of a drug's benefits and risks. They said officials should strive to make the database publicly available for consumers, physicians and researchers.
Federal Government Announces Launch of New Health IT Blog
[On 23 Nov] HHS unveiled a new blog to help update the public on the work of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The Health IT Buzz blog also will provide a forum for consumers, health providers and others to share their input regarding health IT. Healthcare IT News, InformationWeek.
6) From My Medicare Matters – www.mymedicarecommunity.org:
My Medicare Matters offers Webinars (live on-line training) for those who are Medicare advocates. If you are interested in being notified of training sessions, please contact me at esslady@gmail.com.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched the plan finders for 2010 Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, making plan comparisons possible. Open enrollment ends for most people on 31 December.
The Rights of Members of Non-Renewing Medicare Plans: The Non-Renewal Special Enrollment Period
When a plan decides not to continue in the Medicare market the following year, all current members are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to switch to a new plan, beginning on Oct. 1, 2009 and continuing through Jan. 31, 2010.
7) From NCOA – www.ncoa.org:
CLASS Act Survives in Health Reform
An amendment offered by Sen. Thune (R-SD) that would have stripped the CLASS Act [which provides home health care services for seniors] from the Senate health care reform bill was defeated on [4 Dec].
Budget Ax Continues to Fall on State Aging Units
An alarming 96 percent of state units on aging located in states with budget shortfalls say their budgets have been reduced, according to a new report from the National Association of State Units on Aging. The survey documents the challenges facing these states as they struggle to serve an expanding population with diminished funding and resources.
To listen to a radio program about reverse mortgages, go to www.hereandnow.org.
For a volunteer leaders' blog, go to www.volunteerleaders.org.
Long-Term Care Costs on the Rise
From 2008 to 2009, private room nursing home rates rose 3.3 percent to $219 per day or $79,935 per year, MetLife reports in its latest market survey. Assisted living also rose 3.3 percent to $3,131 per month; home health care jumped 5 percent to $21 per hour; and adult day services increased 4.7 percent to $67 per day.
Monday, November 9, 2009
From the Web by Elaine Steward #10
Hi again from Elaine Steward! Following, is my most recent list of things which seem to be of general interest to us retirees. If you find a really interesting site, please email suggestions to me at esslady@gmail.com.
To see whether you can save money by switching your 2010 Medicare Part D plan, once open enrollment begins on 15 November, go to www.cvs.com/medicare for a helpful calculator.
On the same note, go to doughnuthole.aarp.org for AARP’s doughnut hole calculator. It’s kind of hard to enter drugs and dosages, but I recommend that one persevere in order to assess alternatives to entering the doughnut hole.
If any of you had a 2009 Minimum Required Distribution generated automatically, you may qualify to reverse it. For instructions, go to: personal.fidelity.com.
Visit AARP’s Health Care Reform update on AARP.org and learn about the latest news on reform, as well as helpful tools to keep you in the loop.
1) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org
"Some in California's High-Risk Groups May Not Get Swine Flu Vaccine Until 2010" (Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times, 11/6).
Non-Native English Speakers Face Numerous Linguistic, Cultural Barriers to Medical Care Mary Masland of UC-Berkeley, Rachel Mutrux of the Missouri Telehealth Network, Margaret O'Kane of NCQA and Gayle Tang of Kaiser Permanente discussed intercultural communication challenges with California Healthline.
Report: Nursing Home Abuse Cases Might Be Going Underreported A recent report finds that California's nursing home ombudsman program has filed fewer complaints since state budget cuts took effect last year. The report's authors warn that this could indicate that some elder abuse cases are going unreported. AP/Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Insurance Premiums on the Rise in San Joaquin Valley, Across California Experts say health insurance premiums in San Joaquin Valley are 10% to 15% higher than last year, compared with an average nationwide increase of 5%. Officials note that California tends to have higher premiums and health care costs than the rest of the country. Fresno Bee.
Budget Picture Looks Grim in California as Revenue Misses Mark California's budget deficit likely will swell to $7 billion this year as state tax revenue is coming in below estimates used in the July budget package. Recent court rulings blocking state funding cuts to social services and health care programs also are coming into play. New York Times.
What Will New Timely Access Rules Mean for California? After seven years of haggling over details and crafting regulations, California is about to become the first state to mandate how quickly HMO members see a doctor.
Schwarzenegger Urges Congress To Pay for Medicaid Expansions
[On 27 October], Gov. Schwarzenegger sent Congress a letter expressing his support for a so-called "individual mandate" that would require all residents to have health coverage. Schwarzenegger also said California would need to shell out an additional $1 billion per year unless Congress fully funds the Medicaid expansions included in health care reform legislation. Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal.
Cost of Long-Term Care Up, Market Survey Finds. The cost of long-term care increased on average over the past year despite the current economic recession, according to a recent market survey by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. The average annual cost of private nursing homes in the U.S. rose 3.3% to $79,935, or $86,140 annually throughout much of California. The cost of assisted-living homes also increased 3.3% to an average of $37,572 annually, or $40,944 annually in Sacramento. In addition, the cost of home health aides and adult day care services in California rose 5% and 4.7%, respectively.
Recent Injunction Blocking In-Home Care Cuts Highlights Impact of Reducing Safety-Net Care On 19 Oct, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent California from cutting services for participants in the state's In-Home Supportive Services program.
Analysis Takes Closer Look at Policy for Cancer Screenings An analysis in [the 21 Oct] Journal of the American Medical Association questions the payoff of increased screening for breast and prostate cancer, asserting that the screenings have not significantly reduced death rates from the diseases. The article comes as the American Cancer Society reportedly is preparing a statement for its Web site indicating that increased screenings could result in overtreatment of small cancers while missing more life-threatening forms of the disease.
New State Law Calls for Nursing Homes To Post CMS Five-Star Ratings California nursing homes will need to publicly post their scores from CMS' Five-Star Quality Rating System by Jan. 1, 2011, under a law Gov. Schwarzenegger signed earlier this week. Health care industry groups have been critical of CMS' rating system. HealthLeaders Media.
2) From iHealthBeat - www.ihealthbeat.org
Telemedicine: Good Innovation Hampered by Outdated Policies by Protima Advani Hospitals' investment in telemedicine technology can increase access to care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions. However, financial constraints, the lack of reimbursement and legal concerns stand in the way of hospitals embracing such technology.
Privacy, Security Laws Impede Health Data Sharing, Experts Say At a forum last week, health IT experts said the requirements of the Federal Information Security Management Act and HIPAA privacy rules make it challenging for federal agencies and private-sector health providers to share electronic health information. Government Health IT.
WebMD Founder To Launch New Web-Based Health Information Tool WebMD founder Jeff Arnold has partnered with Mehmet Oz, a cardiac surgeon and talk show host, to create a new Web site, called Sharecare. The site will offer a variety of answers to consumers' medical questions and will provide social networking opportunities. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
California's Selection of Health Data Exchange Group Imminent The California eHealth Collaborative and the California Regional Health Information Organization both are vying to serve as the state-designated entity charged with using federal stimulus funding to create a statewide health information exchange in California. Healthcare IT News.
Work Group Gathers Input on Health Data Exchange Standards
[On 29 Oct], the Health IT Standards Committee's implementation work group heard from health care industry leaders about the challenges of establishing common standards for health data exchange. Some participants called for the federal government to create a standard communication interface for the exchange of clinical data. Federal Computer Week, Health Data Management.
Latest Reform Bill Would Revise HIPAA Standards, Track Medical Devices
The House health care reform bill released yesterday includes a provision that would establish national standards for electronic HIPAA transactions. The bill also would require FDA to create a unique identification system for medical devices. Health Data Management et al.
ONC Wants To Survey Consumers on Health Information Sharing
A notice in yesterday's Federal Register proposes surveying about 2,500 Americans about their opinions on health information exchange. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT plans to release a report and hold a Web seminar on the findings. Health Data Management, Government Health IT.
Programs Offering Online Consultations With Doctors Pick Up Steam
Proponents of online physician visits say the technology can increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve patients' access to health care. A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that half of U.S. residents are interested in using the Internet to receive health care. U.S. News & World Report.
Experts: Health Care Reform Should Do More To Boost Telemedicine
Health care experts are pushing for Congress to implement policy changes that facilitate telemedicine adoption. Experts say that telemedicine can help reduce costs and increase efficiency but that reimbursement issues are hindering adoption of the technology. Scripps Howard News Service.
Blumenthal: Savings From Health IT To Exceed CBO's Estimates
National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said he expects the savings realized from health IT adoption to "far exceed" the Congressional Budget Office's projection of about $12 billion over 10 years, an estimate some analysts have thought is too high. Blumenthal reiterated President Obama's goal of providing all Americans with an electronic health record by 2014. MIT Technology Review.
3) From My Medicare Matters – www.mymedicarecommunity.org
My Medicare Matters offers Webinars (live on-line training) for those who are Medicare advocates. If you are interested in being notified of training sessions, please contact me at esslady@gmail.com.
By 15 November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will have launched the plan finders for 2010 Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, making plan comparisons easier.
CMS announced that the Part B premium for 2010 is increasing to $110.50. This is the first time in the history of Medicare that the Part B premium will be above $100 a month. The good news however, at least for the majority of your Medicare clients, is that they are held harmless from this increase and will continue to pay a monthly premium of $96.40 in 2010 for their Part B.
Who Is Excused From Paying the Increased Part B Premium?
So who continues to pay $96.40 for Part B in 2010? Anyone Approximately 73 percent of people with Medicare have their Part B premium automatically deducted from their monthly Social Security benefit. They will continue to pay the $76.40 (sic - $96.40) premium monthly through deduction from their Social Security benefit, for their Part B.
Who will need to pay $110.50 for their Part B in 2010 – Four Categories of People with Medicare
New to Medicare in 2010
First, people new to Medicare, because, obviously, they6 did not have their Part B premium deducted from their December 2009 Social Security benefit. CMS projects that around 3 percent of people with Medicare in 2010 will be new to the benefit and accordingly have to pay a $110.50 monthly Part B premium.
People Paying a Income-Related Part B Premium Now
Next, people already paying a higher income-adjusted Part B premium because their income tax returns show their income is higher than $85,000 for a single individual, or $170,000 for a married couple filing a joint tax return. This amounts to about 5 percent of people with Medicare.
People Who Are Billed for Their Part B Premium
The next group is larger and less well-off economically. This group consists of people whose Part B premiums are not automatically deducted from their Social Security monthly benefit. People in this category may not have worked long enough under the Social Security system to qualify for a Social Security benefit. They get a bill from Social Security and pay their Part B premium directly. Approximately 19 percent of people with Medicare fall into this category.
People Whose Part B Premium is Paid by a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
And the last group consists of those people with both Medicare and a Medicare Savings Program. Your state Medicaid program pays the Part B premium for all of those in your state who have Medicare and one of the MSP programs. Your state Medicaid program will have to pay the increased Part B premium in 2010 on behalf of all MSP clients in your state.
In some states the Part B premium is paid by Medicaid for groups of people with Medicare and Medicaid, in addition to those with a Medicare Savings Program. In these states, the state Medicaid program will also pay the $110.50 Part B premium on behalf of those additional categories of people with both Medicare and Medicaid.
Around 17 percent of people with Medicare also have an MSP or for other reasons their state Medicaid program pays their Part B premium.
Medigap Changes
All Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) policies sold or renewed by or after July 1, 2010 must comply with the following rules.
Standardized Policies Changing - No More Policies E, H, I, J
As of July 1, 2010, the standardized Medigap plans that can be sold will be different. Certain Medigap plans, E, H, I and J, will no longer be sold. Those who currently own one of these plans may be allowed to keep their policy, however if they do they may find that over time their premium might rise precipitously, so they should explore their options and consider buying different plans that will continue to be sold after July 1, 2010. They have a right to switch to a new Medigap policy.
4) From The New York Times Health Update – nytdirect@nytimes.com
You may need an advocate when undergoing medical treatment. For more, see www.nytimes.com.
Dementia has a physical, as well as a mental, component. For more, see www.nytimes.com/.
To see whether you can save money by switching your 2010 Medicare Part D plan, once open enrollment begins on 15 November, go to www.cvs.com/medicare for a helpful calculator.
On the same note, go to doughnuthole.aarp.org for AARP’s doughnut hole calculator. It’s kind of hard to enter drugs and dosages, but I recommend that one persevere in order to assess alternatives to entering the doughnut hole.
If any of you had a 2009 Minimum Required Distribution generated automatically, you may qualify to reverse it. For instructions, go to: personal.fidelity.com.
Visit AARP’s Health Care Reform update on AARP.org and learn about the latest news on reform, as well as helpful tools to keep you in the loop.
1) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org
"Some in California's High-Risk Groups May Not Get Swine Flu Vaccine Until 2010" (Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times, 11/6).
Non-Native English Speakers Face Numerous Linguistic, Cultural Barriers to Medical Care Mary Masland of UC-Berkeley, Rachel Mutrux of the Missouri Telehealth Network, Margaret O'Kane of NCQA and Gayle Tang of Kaiser Permanente discussed intercultural communication challenges with California Healthline.
Report: Nursing Home Abuse Cases Might Be Going Underreported A recent report finds that California's nursing home ombudsman program has filed fewer complaints since state budget cuts took effect last year. The report's authors warn that this could indicate that some elder abuse cases are going unreported. AP/Riverside Press-Enterprise.
Insurance Premiums on the Rise in San Joaquin Valley, Across California Experts say health insurance premiums in San Joaquin Valley are 10% to 15% higher than last year, compared with an average nationwide increase of 5%. Officials note that California tends to have higher premiums and health care costs than the rest of the country. Fresno Bee.
Budget Picture Looks Grim in California as Revenue Misses Mark California's budget deficit likely will swell to $7 billion this year as state tax revenue is coming in below estimates used in the July budget package. Recent court rulings blocking state funding cuts to social services and health care programs also are coming into play. New York Times.
What Will New Timely Access Rules Mean for California? After seven years of haggling over details and crafting regulations, California is about to become the first state to mandate how quickly HMO members see a doctor.
Schwarzenegger Urges Congress To Pay for Medicaid Expansions
[On 27 October], Gov. Schwarzenegger sent Congress a letter expressing his support for a so-called "individual mandate" that would require all residents to have health coverage. Schwarzenegger also said California would need to shell out an additional $1 billion per year unless Congress fully funds the Medicaid expansions included in health care reform legislation. Sacramento Bee, Wall Street Journal.
Cost of Long-Term Care Up, Market Survey Finds. The cost of long-term care increased on average over the past year despite the current economic recession, according to a recent market survey by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. The average annual cost of private nursing homes in the U.S. rose 3.3% to $79,935, or $86,140 annually throughout much of California. The cost of assisted-living homes also increased 3.3% to an average of $37,572 annually, or $40,944 annually in Sacramento. In addition, the cost of home health aides and adult day care services in California rose 5% and 4.7%, respectively.
Recent Injunction Blocking In-Home Care Cuts Highlights Impact of Reducing Safety-Net Care On 19 Oct, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent California from cutting services for participants in the state's In-Home Supportive Services program.
Analysis Takes Closer Look at Policy for Cancer Screenings An analysis in [the 21 Oct] Journal of the American Medical Association questions the payoff of increased screening for breast and prostate cancer, asserting that the screenings have not significantly reduced death rates from the diseases. The article comes as the American Cancer Society reportedly is preparing a statement for its Web site indicating that increased screenings could result in overtreatment of small cancers while missing more life-threatening forms of the disease.
New State Law Calls for Nursing Homes To Post CMS Five-Star Ratings California nursing homes will need to publicly post their scores from CMS' Five-Star Quality Rating System by Jan. 1, 2011, under a law Gov. Schwarzenegger signed earlier this week. Health care industry groups have been critical of CMS' rating system. HealthLeaders Media.
2) From iHealthBeat - www.ihealthbeat.org
Telemedicine: Good Innovation Hampered by Outdated Policies by Protima Advani Hospitals' investment in telemedicine technology can increase access to care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions. However, financial constraints, the lack of reimbursement and legal concerns stand in the way of hospitals embracing such technology.
Privacy, Security Laws Impede Health Data Sharing, Experts Say At a forum last week, health IT experts said the requirements of the Federal Information Security Management Act and HIPAA privacy rules make it challenging for federal agencies and private-sector health providers to share electronic health information. Government Health IT.
WebMD Founder To Launch New Web-Based Health Information Tool WebMD founder Jeff Arnold has partnered with Mehmet Oz, a cardiac surgeon and talk show host, to create a new Web site, called Sharecare. The site will offer a variety of answers to consumers' medical questions and will provide social networking opportunities. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
California's Selection of Health Data Exchange Group Imminent The California eHealth Collaborative and the California Regional Health Information Organization both are vying to serve as the state-designated entity charged with using federal stimulus funding to create a statewide health information exchange in California. Healthcare IT News.
Work Group Gathers Input on Health Data Exchange Standards
[On 29 Oct], the Health IT Standards Committee's implementation work group heard from health care industry leaders about the challenges of establishing common standards for health data exchange. Some participants called for the federal government to create a standard communication interface for the exchange of clinical data. Federal Computer Week, Health Data Management.
Latest Reform Bill Would Revise HIPAA Standards, Track Medical Devices
The House health care reform bill released yesterday includes a provision that would establish national standards for electronic HIPAA transactions. The bill also would require FDA to create a unique identification system for medical devices. Health Data Management et al.
ONC Wants To Survey Consumers on Health Information Sharing
A notice in yesterday's Federal Register proposes surveying about 2,500 Americans about their opinions on health information exchange. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT plans to release a report and hold a Web seminar on the findings. Health Data Management, Government Health IT.
Programs Offering Online Consultations With Doctors Pick Up Steam
Proponents of online physician visits say the technology can increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve patients' access to health care. A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that half of U.S. residents are interested in using the Internet to receive health care. U.S. News & World Report.
Experts: Health Care Reform Should Do More To Boost Telemedicine
Health care experts are pushing for Congress to implement policy changes that facilitate telemedicine adoption. Experts say that telemedicine can help reduce costs and increase efficiency but that reimbursement issues are hindering adoption of the technology. Scripps Howard News Service.
Blumenthal: Savings From Health IT To Exceed CBO's Estimates
National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said he expects the savings realized from health IT adoption to "far exceed" the Congressional Budget Office's projection of about $12 billion over 10 years, an estimate some analysts have thought is too high. Blumenthal reiterated President Obama's goal of providing all Americans with an electronic health record by 2014. MIT Technology Review.
3) From My Medicare Matters – www.mymedicarecommunity.org
My Medicare Matters offers Webinars (live on-line training) for those who are Medicare advocates. If you are interested in being notified of training sessions, please contact me at esslady@gmail.com.
By 15 November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will have launched the plan finders for 2010 Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, making plan comparisons easier.
CMS announced that the Part B premium for 2010 is increasing to $110.50. This is the first time in the history of Medicare that the Part B premium will be above $100 a month. The good news however, at least for the majority of your Medicare clients, is that they are held harmless from this increase and will continue to pay a monthly premium of $96.40 in 2010 for their Part B.
Who Is Excused From Paying the Increased Part B Premium?
So who continues to pay $96.40 for Part B in 2010? Anyone Approximately 73 percent of people with Medicare have their Part B premium automatically deducted from their monthly Social Security benefit. They will continue to pay the $76.40 (sic - $96.40) premium monthly through deduction from their Social Security benefit, for their Part B.
Who will need to pay $110.50 for their Part B in 2010 – Four Categories of People with Medicare
New to Medicare in 2010
First, people new to Medicare, because, obviously, they6 did not have their Part B premium deducted from their December 2009 Social Security benefit. CMS projects that around 3 percent of people with Medicare in 2010 will be new to the benefit and accordingly have to pay a $110.50 monthly Part B premium.
People Paying a Income-Related Part B Premium Now
Next, people already paying a higher income-adjusted Part B premium because their income tax returns show their income is higher than $85,000 for a single individual, or $170,000 for a married couple filing a joint tax return. This amounts to about 5 percent of people with Medicare.
People Who Are Billed for Their Part B Premium
The next group is larger and less well-off economically. This group consists of people whose Part B premiums are not automatically deducted from their Social Security monthly benefit. People in this category may not have worked long enough under the Social Security system to qualify for a Social Security benefit. They get a bill from Social Security and pay their Part B premium directly. Approximately 19 percent of people with Medicare fall into this category.
People Whose Part B Premium is Paid by a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
And the last group consists of those people with both Medicare and a Medicare Savings Program. Your state Medicaid program pays the Part B premium for all of those in your state who have Medicare and one of the MSP programs. Your state Medicaid program will have to pay the increased Part B premium in 2010 on behalf of all MSP clients in your state.
In some states the Part B premium is paid by Medicaid for groups of people with Medicare and Medicaid, in addition to those with a Medicare Savings Program. In these states, the state Medicaid program will also pay the $110.50 Part B premium on behalf of those additional categories of people with both Medicare and Medicaid.
Around 17 percent of people with Medicare also have an MSP or for other reasons their state Medicaid program pays their Part B premium.
Medigap Changes
All Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) policies sold or renewed by or after July 1, 2010 must comply with the following rules.
Standardized Policies Changing - No More Policies E, H, I, J
As of July 1, 2010, the standardized Medigap plans that can be sold will be different. Certain Medigap plans, E, H, I and J, will no longer be sold. Those who currently own one of these plans may be allowed to keep their policy, however if they do they may find that over time their premium might rise precipitously, so they should explore their options and consider buying different plans that will continue to be sold after July 1, 2010. They have a right to switch to a new Medigap policy.
4) From The New York Times Health Update – nytdirect@nytimes.com
You may need an advocate when undergoing medical treatment. For more, see www.nytimes.com.
Dementia has a physical, as well as a mental, component. For more, see www.nytimes.com/.
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