| April 28, 2006 |
Over Seventy Percent of Eligible South Carolinians Now Getting Prescription Drug Coverage Through Medicare
(Columbia, S.C.) With just two weeks remaining to enroll in the new Medicare drug program, almost three-fourths of South Carolina’s 655,000 Medicare beneficiaries have signed up or are covered by a retirement health plan offering prescription coverage as good as or better than the national program that debuted January 1st, Lt. Governor André Bauer said Friday.
“More than 70,000 seniors have enrolled in the past six weeks, bring the total to 475,000 people,” Bauer said. “Thanks to a huge community outreach partnership that involved our state and local I-CARE program staff, county level aging organizations and senior centers, AARP, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association and many, many community volunteers, more than 1,500 Medicare Part D enrollment events were held over the past year. And because of that tremendous effort, 72.5% of our state’s Medicare beneficiaries are now covered by programs that the federal government assures us will save them an average of $1,100 a year in prescription drug costs.” [more] |
|
April 24, 2006
|
Medicare Part D Update from DHHS
30 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Now Receiving Prescription Drug Coverage
On April 20, Medicare announced that more than 30 million Medicare beneficiaries are now receiving prescription drug coverage. The nation's pharmacies filled 270 million prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries in the first three months and more than 93 million prescriptions were filled during March -- averaging 3 million prescriptions filled per day.
In addition, 5.8 million people with Medicare get drug coverage from the Veterans Administration and other sources with prescription drug coverage equal to Medicare -- bringing the total to approximately 35.8 million Medicare beneficiaries now receiving prescription drug coverage.
"These strong enrollment numbers are a tribute to everyone in the national network of caring -- all of our partners, community leaders, the State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPS), and family members, who have provided counseling and assistance to the millions of beneficiaries who are now taking advantage of this new benefit and saving money," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "With a month to go, we've passed our projections of 28 to 30 million enrollees in the first year, and we are intensifying our local outreach efforts to get more seniors signed up before the May 15th deadline."
For more information, includeing current, state-by-state enrollment numbers, visit the DHHS Office of Public Affairs. |
|
April 24, 2006
|
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Taking Applications for "Achievement" and Innovation:"
AAA's encouraged to apply
The n4a Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards, showcase exciting and effective aging initiatives operated by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Title VI - Native American aging programs. The two-tiered awards program recognizes creativity, innovation and good management practices that can serve as models for the Aging Network.
The Aging Achievement Awards highlight exemplary model programs in a range of key service areas, including Aging and Disability Resource Centers, caregiving, collaborative partnerships, ethnic/cultural diversity, healthy aging, home and community-based care, housing, information technology, prescription drug assistance and transportation. Programs that meet all of the award eligibility criteria will receive an Aging Achievement Award. The Aging Innovations Awards highlight the most innovative, cutting-edge programs in each service area.
Winners of the Aging Innovations Awards and Aging Achievement Awards will receive certificates and be featured in the n4a online Best Practices Clearinghouse. Aging Innovation Award winners will also be highlighted in a Best Practices guidebook and featured at the Aging Innovations Showcase at the upcoming n4a Annual Conference, August 6 - 10, 2006 in Chicago.
For additional information, contact Leslie Swift-Rosenzweig at 202/872-0888 or lsrosenzweig@n4a.org, or download the application from the N4A web site.
|
|
April 21, 2006
Volunteers and staff from the Appalachia Region Long Term Care Ombudsman program.
Volunteers and staff from the Midlands Region Long Term Care Ombudsman program.
Volunteers and staff from the Trident Region Long Term Care Ombudsman program.
|
Ombudsman Volunteers Honored at State House Ceremony:
National Volunteer Week celebrated April 23 - 29
(Columbia, S.C.) National Volunteer Week will be celebrated next week in the U.S., and a group of community volunteers from across South Carolina were honored at the S.C. State House on Tuesday (April 18) for their involvement with a new program designed to help residents of the state’s nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
Volunteer Ombudsmen from the Upstate, Midlands and Charleston areas were presented with plaques by Lt. Governor André Bauer and state lawmakers representing the awardees’ local communities. The awards acknowledge their completion of the training to become certified Volunteer Ombudsmen in South Carolina. The volunteers were also recognized from the floor of both chambers of the General Assembly.
“They have a passion for helping other people,” Bauer said of the volunteers. “You are truly doing God’s work, and we appreciate you giving your time and effort to this.”
Honored in Tuesday’s ceremony for completing their training were Don and Carol Groezinger of Gaffney, Lamar Bailes of Walhalla, Janette Gianopoulos of Spartanburg, Joyce Mize of Lexington, Carolyn Briggs of Eastover, Eddie Adair of Mount Pleasant, Beverly Peake of Mt. Pleasant and Don Nottingham of North Charleston. Also recognized were several volunteers who are nearing the completion of their training; including Lucille Severns of Simpsonville, Celia Glenn of Greenville, Jane Duke of Chapin and Richard Brague of Columbia. [Download the entire release in PDF format]
[Download more pictures from this event] |
|
April 20, 2006
|
Retiring on the Edge of Poverty in Rural America
National Public radio recently aired a story looking at the issue of poverty among retirees in rural areas of the United States. NPR reporter Howard Berkes found that elderly women in rural areas have a disproportionately high rate of poverty compared to other groups. You can read a transcript of the broadcast or hear a recording [requires Realplayer or Windows MediaPlayer] by visiting the NPR web site. |
|
April 20, 2006
|
Federal Medicare Agency Announces Home Health Demonstration Project
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a new demonstration project in five states designed to encourage partnerships between home health agencies and adult day care facilities that will allow some Adult Day Services to be covered by Medicare. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries who attend medical adult day care facilities pay out of pocket for those services or they are reimbursed through a third party payer other than Medicare.
[Download this CMS press relase in Adobe PDF format.] |
|
April 14, 2006
|
Medicare Part D Enrollment events planned for the Upstate
Seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Pickens and Spartanburg Counties will have the opportunity for one-on-one counseling and enrollment assistance with the new Part D prescription drug benefit at enrollment events on April 12 and April 21.
On April 12, enrollment assistance will be available at the Main branch of the Spartanburg County Library, located at 151 S. Church Street in Spartanburg from 9AM until 1PM.
On April 21, enrollment assistance will be available at the Hampton Memorial Library, located at 301 Biltmore Avenue in Easley from 9:30AM until 12:30PM and 1PM until 4PM.
Upstate residents can also get help with Medicare Part D enrollment by appointment at SENIOR Solutions Offices in Anderson and Oconee, and at the Gaffney Senior Center.
Call to schedule an appointment:
SENIOR Solutions Anderson - (864) 225-3370
SENIOR Solutions Oconee - (864) 885-1000
Gaffney Senior Center - (864) 489-3868
Telephone assistance is also available from the Applachia Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-434-4036.
These enrollment vents are sponsored, in-part, by the AARP in SC. |
|
April 14, 2006
|
Area Agency on Aging and AARP in SC Bringing Medicare Part D Enrollment Help to Santee Lynches Communities
Seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties who have questions or need assistance with enrolling in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan are able to walk in and get one-on-one help from trained counselors from now until the end of the initial Part D enrollment period on May 15.
Counselors are available at the following times and loations:
Mondays at the Kershaw County Senior Center; April 17 & 24 and May 1 & 8 from noon until 5 PM. The Center is located at 906 Lyttleton Street in Camden.
Tuesdays at the Bishopville One Stop Workforce Center; April 18 & 25 and May 2 &9 from 10AM until 3PM. The Center is located at 123 East Nettles Street in Bishopville.
Wednesdays at the Sumter Senior Center; April 19 & 26 and May 3 & 10 from noon until 5PM. The Center is located at 119 South Sumter Street in Sumter.
Thursdays at the Manning One Stop Workforce Center; April 20 & 27 and May 4 & 11 from 10AM until 3PM. The Center is located at 3351 Sumter Highway in Manning.
Saturdays at the Santee Council on Governments/AAA Offices; April 15, 22 & 29 and May 6 &13 from 8AM until 4PM. The COG is located at 36 West Liberty Street in Sumter.
There will also be enrollment help available during the Striped Bass festival and parade on Saturday, April 29. Counselors will be set up at Stokes-Craven Ford in downtown Manning.
These Medicare D outreach events were made possible by a grant from the AARP in SC. |
|
April 12, 2006
USC Head Track and Field Coach Curtis Frye, Lt. Governor André Bauer and USC Basketball Coach Dave Odom addressed senior groups from around the state about the importance of exercise and diet at the fi rst “You Can!” walk at the Statehouse. The second annual Statewide You Can! Walk
will be held on May 22, 2006 at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo. |
SENIOR Solutions To Hold You Can! Fitness Walk
Campaign designed to raise awareness of the benefits of exercise and nutrition for older people
You Can! walk for fitness organized and sponsored by SENIOR Solutions on Monday.
The walk will begin at 10 a.m. on April 17 at SENIOR Solutions' Market Place Cinema Senior Center, located at 3420 Clemson Blvd. in Anderson. Lt. Governor André Bauer, head of the State Office on Aging, will address the participants and lead the walk.
The national “You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging” campaign seeks to increase the number of older adults in the U.S. who are active and healthy. Encouraging personal responsibility for exercise and nutrition choices has the potential to save the state millions of dollars in healthcare costs over the next two decades, as our older population doubles in size.
[more] |
|
April 6, 2006
CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan talks with AARP SC's Jean Bridges and others outside the Medicare bus in December of 2005.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan speaks to seniors about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit at Generations of Chapin in December of 2005.
US Secretary ofHealth and Human Services, Mike Leavitt speaks to television cameras at a June 2005 Medicare D bus tour event in Columbia.
|
CMS Bus Tour to Roll through South Carolina Again
Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will once again be bringing the Medicare Part D bus tour to South Carolina to promote enrollment in the new prescription drug plans offered through Medicare.
[Correction: an earlier version of this story indicated that HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and CMS Administrator Mark McClellan (pictured at left) were expected to participate in the South Carolina bus tour. Due to a change of plans, neither Secretary Leavitt nor Dr. McClellan will be visiting South Carolina on this trip. CMS Officials from the Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta will be participating and available for media questions on issues related to the implementation of the drug benefit at the scheduled press conferences.]
The enrollment events scheduled for Spartanburg, Anderson, Richland, Charleston and Horry Counties will include press conferences designed to raise public awareness of the drug benefit and the May 15 deadline and one-on-one enrollment assistance for individuals provided by staff from the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging, local Area Agencies on Aging and CMS. Enrollment assistance at the Anderson event will be provided by the staff of SENIOR Solutions. SENIOR Solutions has provided assistance to more than 6,000 residents of Anderson and Oconee Counties since Part D enrollment began.
Complete Schedule of CMS Bus Tour Medicare Part D Enrollment Events for SC
Wednesday, April 12 – Spartanburg, SC
Spartanburg County Public Library Headquarters
151 S. Church Street
Spartanburg , SC 29306
Time: 9AM – 1PM
10:35AM (Press Conference)
Wednesday, April 12 – Anderson, SC
SENIOR Solutions
3420 Clemson Blvd.
Anderson, SC 29621
Time: 11AM – 2PM
12:40PM (Press Conference)
Thursday, April 13 – Hopkins, SC
New Light Beulah Baptist Church
1330 Congaree Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
Time: 8AM – 1PM
11AM (Press Conference)
Thursday, April 13 – Charleston, SC
Charleston County Public library (Auditorium)
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Time: 11AM – 3PM
1:30PM (Press Conference)
Monday, April 17 - Myrtle Beach, SC
Grand Strand Senior Center
1268 21st Ave. North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Time: 9AM –12PM
10:30AM (Press Conference)
|
|
April 6, 2006
|
Federal Government Releases Medicare Part D Progress Report
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday issued a "Progress Report" on the continued implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt.
“The Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan is now three months old. In that short time, we have more than 27 million Medicare beneficiaries who have prescription drug coverage and are enjoying significant savings in their drug prescription costs,” Secretary Leavitt reports. "As a result, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of having 28 to 30 million enrollees in our first year.”
Secretary Leavitt attributes this strong progress to the sound fundamentals of the program (i.e., savings and benefits) and to the grassroots efforts that have been made to educate and enroll beneficiaries. His report urges all seniors to “sign-up before the May 15 deadline so that they do not pass up an average savings of $1,100 per person.”
Secretary Leavitt, along with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan and other federal health policy leaders will be traveling throughout South Carolina by bus next week touting the prescription drug benefit. Press conferences and enrollment events are scheduled in Spartanburg and Anderson on Wednesday, April 12; and in Hopkins (outside Columbia) and Charleston on April 13. |
|
April 6, 2006
|
More than 200 Sites in South Carolina Offer Education and Enrollment Opportunities for Medicare Part D on April 8, 2006
Counselors available to help with Part D Prescription Drug Plan choices
The South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA), the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working with churches and pharmacies throughout South Carolina, are hosting the statewide Medicare Part D Awareness, Education and Enrollment Day on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at more than 200 locations across the state [more]. |
| April 5, 2006 |
Report Predicts Nationwide Shortfall in Geriatric Medicine Specialties
According to an article by the Associated Press in New York, a new report released today by the University at Albany's Center for Health Workforce Studies has highlighted a nationwide problem with a looming shortfall medical providers who specialize in geriatric medicine. The story, published on Tuesday by NewsDay, is available via their online news service at www.Newsday.com.
South Carolina recently took steps to address the anticipated shortfall of fellowship-trained geriatric phsicians and gero-psychologists by creating a grant program that offers these specialists up to $35,000 instudent loan repayments in exchange for a five year commitment to practice in the state.
Center for Health Workforce Studies reports and presentations are available for download from their website at www.chws.albany.edu . |
|
April 4, 2006
[Click here to visit the AARP in South CArolina] |
AARP Report Looks at Trends in Caregiving Nationwide
The AARP Public Policy Institute has just announced the publication of a report written by Lynn Friss Feinberg and her colleagues at the Family Caregiver Alliance. The report, entitled Ahead of the Curve: Emerging Trends and Practices in Family Caregiver Support draws on data collected from an earlier 50-state survey of 150 publicly funded programs. Eight states - Alabama, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington - are highlighted in the report.
Three emerging trends with important implications for addressing the needs of family caregivers: caregiver assessment; consumer direction in family caregiver support services; and collaborations between the aging network and the health care system are discussed.
[ click here to dowload the report from the National AARP website]
|