From the Web by Elaine Steward #14

Hi again from Elaine Steward! Following, is my most recent list of things which may be of general interest to us retirees. If you wish to comment, or have something interesting to share, please post it to the comments section at the end of this blog.

Did you know that Microsoft's Windows Live has a suite of free online and offline services and programs? Sky Driveis a free, 25-gigabyte virtual hard drive on the Internet, accessible from any computer. Windows Live Sync is another very good free Windows Live service, for Mac and Windows, that everyone should know about. Go to download.live.com/

If you are wondering about the accuracy of what you hear on the news or read in the newspapers, check out The Annenberg Foundation’s factchecked.org/ Their mission statement is: “We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.”

For guidance in selecting a nursing home, go to www.medicare.gov and select "facilities and doctors" from the tab to the left.

Cleaning For a Reason is an organization that will connect women currently undergoing chemotherapy to participating cleaning services in their area to provide FREE housecleaning - one time per month for up to four months - while they are undergoing treatment. All a woman must do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating cleaning service in her area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA with ~600 current partners. For further information: www.cleaningforareason.org

For a check list of things to do when a spouse or domestic partner dies, go to the USC Emeriti Center web page www.usc.edu/org/emeriti_center/ and click on “Retiree Resources.” While you’re there, take a look at some of the other offerings. It’s a VERY RICH website.

Many USC and other physicians are available to answer questions via email. Check with your particular physician to see whether s/he is available via this medium.

Learn how to send text messages on your cell phone! In a recent earthquake preparedness talk, it was stated that in the case of an emergency, the texting feature will likely work when the phone feature will not. This is because of the difference in technologies involved.

For instructions on how to adjust your rearview mirrors so that you have no blind spots, go to www.caranddriver.com/features/10q1/how_to_adjust_your_mirrors_to_avoid_blind_spots-feature

For state-specific advance directive for healthcare forms, go to www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload

For information on preventing falls, go to www.stopfalls.org/individuals_families/index.shtml

For help with Google searches, try some things recommended at www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2010/04/02/02gigaom-10-simple-google-search-tricks-58674.html?ex=1286856000&en=419dbe0b98920044&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-0414-L11

For a search engine designed specifically for seniors, go to www.good50.com


1) From AARP – bulletin.aarp.org

For information on how people are dealing with the Estate Tax uncertainty, go to bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/personalfinance/articles/estate_tax_is_dead_but_confusion_lives_on.html?cmp=NLC-WBLTR-CTRL-43010-F4t-21

2) From Aging in Stride – www.aginginstride.org

For a check list of home modifications and repairs to do to make your home safer for seniors, go to enews.aginginstride.org/pub.48/issue.1301/article.5388/

For information on getting the sleep you need, go to healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting

3) From California Healthline – www.californiahealthline.org/

Updated Budget Plan Likely To Include Deep Health Care Cuts By the end of the week, Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected to release an updated budget plan that likely will include deep cuts to health and social service programs. The expected cuts are part of a response to lower-than-expected tax revenue and the state's unfulfilled requests for additional federal funding. San Francisco Chronicle et al.

Long-Term Care Coverage Headed for Change in California A portion of the health reform legislation -- the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act -- creates a national, voluntary insurance program to pay participants a cash benefit if they develop functional limitations or disabilities -- scenarios that become more likely for all of us, the longer we live. The intent of the CLASS Act is to increase the options when people are faced with the need for ongoing care.

Eighteen States Decline To Run High-Risk Health Insurance Pools
Eighteen states have decided not to administer their own high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions. California, as well as 27 other states and the District of Columbia, [have] informed HHS that they will administer their own high-risk insurance pools. Two other states have not yet informed HHS of their decisions. Some governors said Congress did not allocate enough funding for the states to operate their own pools. CQ HealthBeat, Washington Post.

CPOE Leads to Drop in Patient Mortality, California Study Finds Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., saw its mortality rate decline by 20% after it implemented a computerized physician order entry system. The hospital is the first in the nation to find evidence that CPOE systems can reduce medical errors and save lives. Reuters et al.

Bill Would Keep Elder Care Ombudsman California has had a long-term care ombudsman since 1996, when the Legislature passed the Older Californians Act. Lawmakers hope to appropriate $1.6 million to keep that program going another year.

California Gears Up for Reform Provisions Taking Effect This Year For a list of what those provisions are, go to the 28 April 2010 edition.

Kaiser Leads Calif. Health Plans in Member Satisfaction Survey A new survey from J.D. Power & Associates found that most California health plans received consumer satisfaction scores that were lower than national averages. For the third consecutive year, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan received the highest score for member satisfaction among California health plans. Payers & Providers, Stockton Record.

4) From iHealthBeat - www.ihealthbeat.org/

More People Going On Line For Health Information. A new survey from Deloitte finds that 53% of seniors, 55% of baby boomers, 57% of Generation X and 56% of Generation Y look up treatment information online. Meanwhile, one in four U.S. adults use the Internet to find physician care quality information and 12% of respondents have gone online to find provider cost information.

The Empowered Patient Coalition is dedicated to helping people improve the quality and safety of their healthcare. To find an advocate, or to report an adverse medical event, go to www.empoweredpatientcoalition.org/

Senate Aging Panel Examines New Role of Telehealth Tools [The week of 19 April] the Senate Special Committee on Aging examined how the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan could help promote telehealth technologies that allow health care providers to remotely monitor and consult with patients, Healthcare IT News reports (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 4/26).

Experts Push for Greater Patient Participation in E-Health Record Use At a Health IT Policy Committee work group hearing on Tuesday, experts stressed the importance of including patients in the use of electronic health records, Federal Computer Week reports.

Bill Would Expand Eligibility for 'Meaningful Use' Incentives [On 15 April] Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) introduced a bill (HR 5025) that would allow behavioral, mental health and substance abuse treatment providers to qualify for incentive payments for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records, Healthcare IT News reports.

Personal Health Record Use on the Rise in U.S., Survey Finds. Although the number of U.S. residents using personal health records has more than doubled since 2008, usage rates remain relatively low at 7%, according to a survey released Tuesday by the California HealthCare Foundation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. CHCF is the publisher of iHealthBeat.

Hospitals Piloting iPad Applications To Explain Procedures to Patients Two hospitals are piloting new applications for Apple's iPad tablet computer that aim to help patients and their families better understand common medical procedures, the Orlando Business Journal reports.

HHS Takes on Active Role in New Federal 'Open Government' Plan [On 7 April] the Obama administration released memos describing how federal agencies plan to promote transparency and public interaction. HHS said it intends to post community health data online and promote a Web site that tracks and compares treatment costs. In related news, officials also clarified rules on how federal agencies can share information through social media. Washington Post et al.


5) 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

CMS Terminates a Part D Plan - 3/16/10 For the first time ever, CMS has terminated it's contract with a Part D plan mid-year due to serious violations that deprived members of access to the drugs they needed and that should have been covered. As of March 10, 2010, Fox Insurance Company Part D plans in 21 states were discontinued

6) From NCOA – www.ncoa.org

“Create a national strategy to tap older volunteers” may be the best idea yet for improving the OAA. At least it’s one of the top ideas submitted to The Exchange, an exciting new Web site…launched [the week of 15 Mar 10]. Visit The Exchange to vote on this idea and many others—or post your own and encourage your peers to vote it to the top!” To participate, go to www.agingexchange.org/

Kaiser's primer on Medicare has been updated to reflect recent health care legislation. For the updated version, go to www.kff.org/medicare/7615.cfm

NCOA’s Reverse Mortgage Counseling Services Network is one of five national counseling groups approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Call 800.510.0301 for an appointment. The fee is $125. In some circumstances, it may be waived.

CMS has improved the Medicare website. Check it out at www.medicare.gov

Confused about health reform? Wondering what it really means for older Americans? Read our new Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform. In just two pages, we lay out five straight facts on how health reform will affect seniors. Read it, download it, and share it widely with the older adults in your life. www.ncoa.org/assets/files/pdf/Straight-Talk-for-Seniors.pdf

7) From The New York Times Health Update – nytdirect@nytimes.com

For information on long term care and the new health legislation, go to www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/health/policy/04land.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

For information on an apparent relationship between diet and Alzheimer’s Disease, go to www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/health/research/20aging.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

For a very nice decision tree which may help you understand how the health care overhaul will affect you specifically, go to www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/21/us/health-care-reform.html?nl=health&emc=healthupdateemb3

For information on a gadget which can detect when one falls and automatically report it, go to gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/monitoring-your-parents-falls/?emc=eta1