From the Web by Elaine Steward #23

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

The enrollment period for 2012 Medicare Part D (prescription drug) coverage will begin on 15 October 2011 and will end on 7 December 2011. These dates are different from those used in prior years.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on August 4, 2011, that Medicare average prescription drug premiums will not increase in 2012.

The Auto Club of Southern California has endorsed a computer program called Drive Sharp, which is designed to help seniors improve their driving skills (e.g., sharpen reflexes). Information can be found at www.positscience.com/our-products/drivesharp Right now, if you purchase it through the Auto Club, it is half price.

For some guidance on managing email, check out emailcharter.org/index.html. For more, go to pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/we-have-to-fix-e-mail/?ref=personaltechemail&nl=technology&emc=cta1

If you want to manage your exposure on the Internet, go to www.reputation.com/ The free service will help you delete certain information and also see your current exposure. You can upgrade for a fee and get even more control.

Social Security Office Hours: Due to budget constraints, as of August 15 Social Security field offices will close to the public 30 minutes earlier each day. You can access many Social Security services and get up-to-date information online at www.socialsecurity.gov or by calling the toll-free 800 number 1-800-772-1213 and TTY number 1-800-325-0778.

If you love to read, but have trouble keeping track of your favorite author, book genre, etc, you can either bookmark or subscribe to www.tracknewbook.com/

Emergency preparedness people tell us that in a disaster, text messages are likely to get through when other kinds of communication fail. Just set up your I'm OK emergency contact list ahead of time. Then if you need to message your list (either that you're ok or that you need help), just text the I'm OK number. The site will email your entire contact list to let them know how you're doing. Set it up at imokapp.appspot.com/ Unfortunately, the mobile app is only available for the Blackberry Bold.

I’ve previously sent out information on unsubscribing from catalogues and now the same company has a central service for unsubscribing from on-line sites. For information, go to www.unsubscribe.com/

To create your own “how to” page (e.g., reminding a friend how to use a cell phone feature), go to www.tildee.com/

If you absolutely have to send sensitive information via the Internet, use quickforget.com/ The message will self-destruct after a specified period of time or a specified number of views.

1) From AARP – bulletin.aarp.org

For help understanding your quarterly Medicare statement, go to www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-05-2011/your-medicare-summary-notice-and-you.html?cmp=NLC-WBLTR-CTRL-070811-F4t-15&USEG_ID=6388998522

If you have not yet applied for Social Security, check out this method of maximizing your benefits www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-06-2011/social-security-mailboxhow-to-maximize-your-benefits.html?cmp=NLC-MONY-CTRL-71111-F1-1

The annual WELLNESS visit now covered by Medicare is NOT an annual physical. A physical will likely not be covered. For more information, go to www.aarp.org/health/health-care-reform/info-07-2011/free-medicare-wellness-exam.2.html

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

A UCLA study has demonstrated mood benefits of Tai Chi. It seems that improved mood positively affects physical health.

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

Governor Brown Signs Budget Package To Close State Deficit On [30 June] Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a package of bills to close the state's budget deficit just one day before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year, the Los Angeles Times reports.

USC Report: Tackling Chronic Conditions Can Save Billions A new report by researchers from the University of Southern California's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, Harvard University's School of Public Health and RAND suggests that reducing the rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure among middle-age U.S. adults could save Medicare and Medicaid as much as $632 billion by 2050. The report -- published this month in the journal Social Science & Medicine -- also suggests that addressing these chronic conditions could raise life expectancy. The researchers noted that the health status of people in their 50s plays a key role in their medical needs and costs of care.

Date Set, Plaintiffs Get Support in High Court Medi-Cal Case When the U.S. Supreme Court begins its 2011-2012 term Oct. 3, the first case on the docket will pose the question: Do Californians have the right to sue government agencies and officials over Medicaid

California Lowers Expenses for Pre-Existing Condition Insurance On [2 Aug] California officials announced that the state's high-risk health insurance program will reduce premium costs by an average of 18%, HealthyCal reports (van Diepen, HealthyCal, 8/2).

Reform Providing Preventive Services to California Seniors More than 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in California have received at least one of the no-cost preventive services made available under the federal health reform law, according to data from federal health officials. Nationwide, more than 17 million seniors have received at least one no-cost preventive service since Jan. 1. Such services include bone mass measurements, diabetes screenings, flu shots, mammograms and prostate cancer tests.

Drop in Revenue Raises Concern of Additional Cuts to Health Care California missed its general fund revenue target for July by $541 million, or about 10%, according to state Controller John Chiang (D), the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

State Plans To Provide Managed Care for Adult Day Health Care Users California health officials have released a plan they say will help keep thousands of Californians out of institutions when Medi-Cal stops offering adult day health care services as a benefit in December, the Los Angeles Times reports. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.

4) From Carepages – www.carepages.com

For guidance on financial management of an incapacitated loved one, go to cms.carepages.com/CarePages/en/ArticlesTips/HelpfulTips/Financial-Management-During-a-Medical-Crisis.html?xid=nl_EverydayCaringFromCarePages_20110630


5) I do hope you are all following the (USC) Dean’s Council on Health Reform at www.healthreform.usc.edu/ It is a very rich site

6) From iHealthBeat - www.ihealthbeat.org/

New Online Directory Helps Patients Compare Care Quality Across U.S. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched an online directory that allows consumers to compare health care providers' quality of care. The tool includes information from 197 state and 27 national databases. Los Angeles Times' "Booster Shots," New York Times' "Prescriptions."

Mayo Clinic Launches Social Networking Site on Health Care Issues More than 1,000 people have joined a new social networking website that the Mayo Clinic launched [the first week in July] to connect consumers with similar health-related interests, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports.

Expanded Access to Broadband Could Improve Rural Health Care Expanding broadband Internet access could help improve health care in rural areas of the U.S. by increasing the use of telehealth, electronic prescribing and electronic health records, according to participants at an Internet Innovation Alliance panel discussion in mid August.

Study: Mobile Phone Software Helps Improve Diabetes Management Software added to basic cell phones can help patients with diabetes significantly reduce a key measure of blood sugar over one year, according to a study published in Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, the Wall Street Journal reports.

FCC Seeks To Facilitate Use of Mobile Devices in Emergencies The Federal Communications Commission has announced plans to develop technical standards for programs that allow the public to contact emergency responders by using their mobile phones to send text messages, photos and videos. FCC plans to launch a rulemaking process and seek public comment on the plan next month. National Journal's "Tech Daily Dose," Government Technology.

7) From Kaiser Health News – www.kaiserhealthnews.org/

If you are wondering whether you should obtain health insurance from a high risk pool, check out the Q & A at www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Multimedia/2011/June/Andrews-Q-and-A-On-High-Risk-Pools.aspx

Medicare Will Continue To Cover 2 Expensive Cancer Drugs
Medicare confirmed on [30 June] that it would continue to pay for two expensive cancer drugs that had been at the center of debate — Avastin from Genentech for breast cancer and Provenge from Dendreon for prostate cancer (New York Times Pollack, 6/30).

For an understanding of how “super committee” decisions may impact Medicare and Medicaid spending, go to www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/August/03/debt-deal-FAQ.aspx?utm_source=medicaretop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=080411


Health Plan Buyers Get A Look Under The Hood Consumers shopping for health insurance will soon get a peek at a new standard form—akin to the nutrition label on food products—that will lay out the details of each policy, from deductibles to how much it might cost to have a baby. Federal regulators are expected to unveil the proposed summary form, part of the health-care overhaul law, on [17 August], and the requirement is supposed to take effect next March (Mathews and Adamy, Kaiser Health News 8/17).

8) 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


9) From NCOA – www.ncoa.org

For a list of the members of the “supercommittee,” go to www.ncoa.org/news-ncoa-publications/news/deficit-reduction-committee.html

[NCOA/s] Reverse Mortgage Counseling Services Network is one of five national counseling groups approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. To schedule a counseling session, call toll-free (800) 510-0301.

Don’t forget the six-week on-line course for managing chronic diseases at selfmanage.org/BetterHealth/SignUp

10) From The New York Times – nytdirect@nytimes.com

Drive to Stem Shingles Meets Few Expectations Five years have passed since the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine against shingles. By now, experts had expected a substantial proportion of people older than 60, the most vulnerable population, to be protected from outbreaks of this nasty viral disease and the persistent, debilitating pain it can leave behind.