September 5, 2007

CARIE Policy Update and Meeting Announcement

Quote of the Month
“Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” - Samuel Ullman from the poem Youth

Part D 2008 Premium Estimates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) anticipates an increase of $25 to Medicare Part D premiums in 2008. CMS also announced the 2008 “national average monthly bid” as $80.52 and the “base beneficiary premium” as $27.93 per month. These figures are used to calculate the Medicare premium subsidy to Part D drug plans which CMS stated would be $52.59 in 2008. The regional low-income subsidy payment amounts and benchmarks for 2008 and other data can be found on CMS’ website.  (Click here if having trouble with the previous link, then click on 2008.)

New CMS Guidance on Feeding Assistants
CMS has sent state survey agency directors new guidance regarding the use of paid feeding assistants in skilled nursing facilities and training materials for state surveyors about how to ensure compliance with the new guidelines. CMS has posted a Transmittal and a Zip file that includes a Memo to state survey agency directors, an “advance copy” of the guidance for the State Operations Manual, and PowerPoint slides for training purposes.  (If having trouble with the Zip File link, click here then go to 8/10/2007 posting date.)

Power of Attorney Abuses 
A series of four “Courting Trouble” articles were recently published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that describes problems with granting “power of attorney” and of the lack of safeguards in place to prevent abuse. The four articles are: “Courting Trouble: The document granting ‘power of attorney’ often leads to abuse”; “Courting Trouble: How a rescue led to a financial mess”; “Courting Trouble: Guardsman in Iraq finds wife sold house out from under him”; and, “Courting Trouble: Power of attorney safeguards tough to legislate.”    

Just the Links.....
The following are links to potential resources or documents of interest:

• CMS posts two new consumer tip sheets: “Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: How to File a Grievance, Request a Coverage Determination, or File an Appeal” and “Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Cost Plans: How to File a Complaint (Grievance or Appeal).” 
• The Center for Medicare Advocacy has posted a new alert, “Addressing Concerns about Quality of Care For Medicare Beneficiaries.”
• The Congressional Research Service issued a report, “Integrating Medicare and Medicaid Services Through Managed Care.”  
• Thomson Healthcare (formerly Medstat) issued a memo, “Medicaid Long-Term Care Expenditures in FY 2006,” state tables and state rankings of Medicaid long term care expenditures.    
• The Foundation for Health Coverage Education has a new interactive tool on their website to help consumers determine their eligibility for private and public health care plans. The tool requires users to answer 5 simple questions to identify potential health coverage options. There is also a free “Health Care Options Matrix Guide” to view or print that provides a chart of each state’s private health insurance and public benefit options.  
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health has posted a special report, “Older Pennsylvanians - 2007 Edition” that contains various health statistics related to Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older. 
• On September 19 from 1-3:30 PM Eastern Time, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is sponsoring a free satellite broadcast, “Supporting Caregivers Across the Lifespan,” to increase awareness of services available to caregivers and to improve service delivery for caregiving Americans. DHHS has already posted a resource list of services and other caregiving resources.  Click here for a list of satellite locations and here for more information.      
• A professional conference, “Accessing Mental Health Services: Present Dilemmas and Hope for the Future,” is being held at Lankenau Hospital on October 26, 2007. Contact Kathy Cubit to receive a conference brochure with registration information. 

CARIE Job Opening
CARIE has a part-time CARIE LINE advocate position available. Please help us locate another dynamic advocate to join our team by sharing the job description with any professional you think may be interested.

Just for Fun 
A grandson has found a unique way of spending time with his grandmother who is in her 80s; he has been filming her cooking her favorite recipes. “Feed Me Bubbe” has been charming viewers on the internet. Click here to see the first episode.  Enjoy!

September Meeting Announcement
The Dorothy S. Washburn Legislative Committee meeting is starting the fall season with a special guest speaker. Leonardo Cuello, an attorney for the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, will provide information about Medicare Part D updates for 2008 among other issues. Please click here for a copy of the September 6th meeting agenda.  Hope you can join us. As always, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Kathy