 News Briefs Archive
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July 2002
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| Jul 3 * 2:25 PM - LCAO/NCOA Oppose House Medicare Reform/Prescriptio |
Not one of the 47 members of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, including NCOA, supported the prescription drug proposal in H.R. 4954, which passed the House last Friday. The bill, which also includes provider reimbursement increases and other Medicare reforms, passed on a mostly party-line vote of 221-208, with eight Republicans and eight Democrats crossing sides. The earlier proposal to include new Medicare Home Health co-payments was dropped from the final package. Democrats were denied the opportunity to vote on their own substitute bill. Attention now turns to the Senate, where finding a proposal that can garner the 60 votes needed for passage will be difficult. Please contact your senators and urge them to pass a good prescription drug bill.
Campaign info
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| Jul 3 * 2:30 PM - BenefitsCheckUp Newly Updated |
BenefitsCheckUp now includes newly updated information: data from the 'Together Rx' program (a discount card worth up to 20-40 percent off drugs manufactured by seven leading companies), revised questions, an enhanced way of displaying local contact information, updated area codes, two redesigned pages, and seven new application forms. NCOA updates the site every month and thanks AOL for making this among the speediest migrations ever.
More info
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August 2002
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| Aug 30 * 2:04 PM - New Publication Shares Consumer Choice News |
A new electronic publication, Consumer Choice News, provides updates on national, state and local programs and policies on consumer-directed services for older adults. The newsletter is part of 'Promoting Consumer Direction in Aging Services', a joint effort of the National Council on the Aging and the National Association of State Units on Aging to increase opportunitites for older consumers to direct their own care. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds the project.
more info
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April 2006
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| Apr 25 * 1:21 PM - MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE DEADLINE |
| MAY 15TH DEADLINE RAPIDLY APPROACHING FOR
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE: With a month to go, we are intensifying our local outreach efforts to get more seniors signed up before the May 15th deadline.
Signing up is as easy as three simple steps:1. Get your prescriptions together. 2. Get your Medicare card. 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online at www.medicare.gov.
The May 15th deadline is fast approaching. We urge everyone who has not signed up to act now to avoid a last minute rush. There are plenty of ways to get help. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact Jill Creamer at The Center (#789-0268) before the May 15th deadline. Sign up now and start saving on your drugs. And if you do not need drugs now, by signing up you can get the lowest cost protection for the future and avoid costly penalties for not signing up before the deadline.
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June 2006
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| Jun 13 * 2:11 PM - Senior Services Department Hosts Health Professional Students |
| The Town's Senior Services Department is serving as the 'Community Host Agency' for the Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH) Program. The statewide program, funded by the National Health Service Corps, is an 8-week community oriented primary care training program for health professions students and primary care medical/dental residents conducted under the auspices of the Office of Primary Care, Rhode Island Department of Health. Students are matched with mentors/preceptors in clinical settings who show students the satisfactions and challenges of working in underserved communities. This mentoring is complemented by site visits to community health/social service agencies and a didactic curriculum. Rick Ryan, Senior Services Director, has participated in developing the site visitation component of the program for 26 years since its inception in 1981. Karen Turcotte, Senior Center Director, has assisted in this aspect of the program for the last 10 years.
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| Jun 28 * 11:58 AM - Medicare Beneficiaries Warned To Be Aware of Telephone Scams |
| Tips for People with Medicare to Protect Against Scams
· Medicare beneficiaries can take steps to protect themselves by remembering:
· No one can come into your house uninvited.
· No one can ask you for personal information during their marketing activities.
· Always keep all personal information, such as your Medicare number, safe, just as you would a credit card or a bank account number.
· Whenever you have a question or concern about any activity regarding Medicare,
call 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
· Legitimate Medicare drug plans will not ask for payment over the telephone or the Internet. They must send a bill to the beneficiary for the monthly premium.
Beneficiaries can pay automatically by setting up a monthly withdrawal from their Social Security check. Beneficiaries may also pay by monthly check or set up an automatic withdrawal from a bank account, but beneficiaries must call their plan or respond to a mailed payment request from the plan to do this.
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August 2006
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| Aug 2 * 12:08 PM - Excessive Heat Warning - Cooling Center |
| The Senior Center will remain open until 5:00pm on Thursday, August 3rd as a cooling center for seniors and the disabled to get relief from the heat. This is in response to the excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. The Senior Center is located at 25 St. Dominic Road (off of Broad Rock Road) in Wakefield. (phone # 789-0268)
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August 2007
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| Aug 22 * 12:46 PM - After Hours Emergency Response Program For Elders In Crisis |
| The After Hours Emergency Response Program For Elders In Crisis program was established in 2006 to address the need for a comprehensive response to elders in crisis at night and on holidays and weekends. When a call is made to the program, a licensed clinician will make an initial assessment to determine the appropriate action to be taken immediately. The coordinator will advise public safety personnel on the scene and, if necessary, will coordinate a referral of the elder for emergency placement in an assisted living facility, a nursing home or for the delivery of emergency home care services. The program operates Monday through Friday from 4:00 pm to 8:30 am and on weekends and holidays. The telephone number for the program is the number for the RI Department of Elderly Affairs Protective Services reporting line: 462-0555. The DEA Protective Services Unit staffs this line Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on normal business days.
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August 2007
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| Aug 23 * 12:06 PM - Preparing for a Hurricane Makes Sense for Older Americans. Get Ready Now. |
| The likelihood that you and your family will recover from an emergency tomorrow often depends on the planning and preparation done today. While each persons abilities and needs are unique, every individual can take steps to prepare for a hurricane. By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. A guide outlining commonsense measures older Americans can take to start preparing for emergencies before they happen is available at www.ready.gov.
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October 2007
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| Oct 3 * 10:57 AM - Seventh Anniversary Celebration |
| You are cordially invited to attend the Celebration of the Seventh Anniversary of The Center on Tuesday, October 16th at 11:30 am. Entertainment will be provided by The Romps (Retired Old Musicians Playing Swing). Celebrity Chefs will be at the grill! Kindly RSVP by Thursday, October 11th to #789-0268.
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December 2007
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| Dec 4 * 10:48 AM - Medicare Part D Plan Choice |
| Have questions about what Medicare Part D plan to choose?
You can change your Medicare Part D plan during the annual election period of November 15 through December 31, 2007. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2008.
In order to provide a personalized search please bring your Medicare card any other insurance cards, a list of all of your medications, strength, and how often you take that medication. Call Jill Creamer @ #789-0268 for an appointment.
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February 2008
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| Feb 27 * 12:07 PM - IRS Says Seniors Must File Taxes to Receive Economic Stimulus Payments |
| Seniors with limited means who normally don't need to file a federal tax return must do so this year in order to receive their payment under the recently enacted economic stimulus package, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced. This includes 20 million seniors who rely primarily on Social Security who are eligible to receive $300 per individual or $600 per couple under the new law that NCOA supported.
The IRS says it will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, and beneficiary groups to inform these individuals that they must file a tax return to receive their payment. To help ensure that all eligible seniors receive their payments, NCOA has developed a fact sheet with more detailed information, and free tax help is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (1-800-906-9887) and AARP's Tax-Aide program.
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February 2008
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| Feb 27 * 12:14 PM - Economis Stimulus Payment SCAM |
| Under the guise of the new economic stimulus package, people, in particular elders, are being contacted by phone and asked for personal information, including Social Security numbers, date of birth, etc. to ensure that they receive their checks that the Government will be issuing.
Please never give out personal information to someone who calls. The Government will not and does not call for this or any other personal information.
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March 2008
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| Mar 13 * 9:14 AM - Photo Identification Cards |
| The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will process identification cards for seniors age 60 and older and adults with disabilities age 18 to 59 at DMV sites across the state. There is no charge for these identification cards.
Seniors and adults with disabilities are reminded that they can have either a valid drivers license or state ID card. According to RI GL 3-8-6 and 3-8-6-1, a person cannot have both simultaneously. If seniors and adults with disabilities want a state ID card, they would have to surrender their license to the DMV.
ID cards will be processed at the Stedman Government Center, Route 1,
Wakefield,RI on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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