Also, we should be wearing masks outdoors as well as indoors at this time. While being indoors with others is far riskier, being outdoors is not risk free if you are with others you don't live with..There are special rules that allow you to delay sign up for Medicare Part B when you receive healthcare benefits through work. You need to satisfy these three requirements:.TSCL was pleased to see support grow for H.R. 1251 and S. 427 this week, and we will continue to advocate for them tirelessly in the months ahead. For more information, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website..House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the House would push for the deal to be included in a year-end legislative package. However, Senate leaders haven't signed off on the deal, according to a committee aide..It is time to invest in these essential caregivers and our seniors. It is for this reason that I introduced H.R. 4445, the Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 201The bill would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish six, three-year demonstration projects to test models of care using direct-care workers in advanced roles. These demonstrations would focus on care coordination and improved delivery of health services for older adults with chronic illness or at-risk of re-hospitalization. Two projects would train DCWs to take on increased responsibilities related to caring for patients with specific diseases, including Alzheimer's, dementia, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. Two additional projects would include DCWs as members of interdisciplinary care coordination teams and use their abilities to promote smooth transitions in care. The final two would use DCWs to monitor patient health status, help consumers follow prescribed care, and educate consumers and family caregiver..While the legislation made some changes to Social Security and did not cut benefits of any current retirees, it did end a complicated benefit claiming strategy known as "file and suspend" for people very close to retirement. Although the legislation closes an unintended "loophole," the strategy was one of the few means married couples had to maximize their payouts. A similar provision was contained in Obama's 2015 fiscal year budget and was estimated to cut Social Security costs by as much as .5 billion annually..Sixty-two percent of American households include at least one pet. Mine includes two –both a dog and an aging cat. New advances in veterinary medicines are making expensive treatments a reality, often putting owners into an emotional and fiscally painful bind. For example, I learned that my dog with paralysis in her hind quarters from a potentially fatal spinal disc rupture had the option of getting a ,000 surgery, followed by weeks of physical therapy in a swimming tank. My cat with hyperthyroidism is receiving oral medications costing up to 0 per year including blood tests. Even if your pet is perfectly healthy, vet bills for routine annual check-ups, tests, vaccines and treatments can run about 0 per year for dogs and 5 per year for cats..Annual cuts to healthcare providers. The Affordable Care Act provided for a number of cost-cutting mechanisms that cut government spending on hospitals and other healthcare providers. Medicare's Chief Actuary and the Congressional Budget Office have raised doubts that the savings targets can be achieved over a prolonged period of time, without providers dropping out of Medicare. Media reports already suggest that a growing number of Medicare beneficiaries are left with significant uncovered costs as hospitals keep patients listed as outpatients rather than inpatients due to new rules that penalize hospitals for frequent readmissions. TSCL is concerned that these sorts of problems may escalate as provisions of the Affordable Care Act are implemented..Note the date and time of day of the call. Also note if you have a clear line or if the call sounds like it's coming from overseas. Does the person you are talking to have trouble with the language, have a heavy accent, etc.?
