medicare

Each year flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. While it is unclear what will happen this fall and winter, if there is COVID-19 and
flu at the same time, this could place a tremendous burden on our health care systems and cause many additional illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Now more than ever, it’s important that everyone do their part to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu and COVID-19, according to Alpine County Health Officer Dr. Richard Johnson.

This letter is in response to Toni Hall and Tom Yant whose letters were printed on 2/14/20 (“Why I will be voting ‘No’ on Measure B” and “LVFPD needs to budget for equipment from its big lard pot”). I want to begin by saying YES on Measure B!

I have to wonder if either of them contacted Lake Valley Fire Protection District with their questions, as their information is misleading and incorrect. Our Fire District is available to talk with you about Measure B (530-577-3737), or you can go to their website (lakevalleyfire.org).

Did you know that Medicare has an ombudsman to help you resolve complaints you may have about your healthcare?

Congress created the job of Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman to assist people with Medicare with their inquiries, complaints, grievances, appeals, and requests for information.

The Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman also shares information with Congress, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other organizations about what works well and what doesn’t work well to improve the quality of the care you get through Medicare.

A scam to get social security numbers from unsuspecting residents is growing exponentially and losses of $10 million were reported in the last year.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) recently made connections with a senior citizen through their new Caring Neighbors Program. They found the senior had been scammed out of over $34,000 over the past 20 months.

In the program, a deputy and a volunteer visit seniors to obtain needed information such as consent, next of kin and medication information. The information is beneficial in case of a future emergency involving the senior citizen.

One thing is certain, something has to change or there will not be enough money to operate buses around the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. What isn't certain is how those changes will look, where extra funding can come from, or if services will have to be cut.

During Friday's Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) board meeting, options to keep a sustainable transit system in place for Lake Tahoe were discussed. Buses continue to operate at a loss and that cannot continue, according to the TTD staff.

Medicare helps to pay for a wide variety of health services, from flu shots to hospital stays, and from preventive health screenings to hospice care.

But it doesn’t cover everything. And it doesn’t cover all your out-of-pocket costs.

Many services covered by Medicare require co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You can purchase supplemental insurance to cover these “gaps” in Medicare.

Such coverage is called Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap. Some Medigap policies also cover certain benefits that Medicare doesn’t, like emergency care in a foreign country.

Dr. Devendra I. Patel, aka Devendrakumar I. Patel, 58, of Elko, Nev., was arrested Tuesday on 39 charges of unlawful distribution of prescriptions opioids and Medicaid fraud.

Patel is charged with 36-counts of distribution of controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three-counts of health care fraud. He is a cardiologist at his medical practice, Northeastern Nevada Cardiology. The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty for health care fraud is 10 years in prison.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE – What’s in the future for Social Security and Medicare and how might changes in the Affordable Care Act affect your Medicare coverage?

Those topics will be discussed in a community presentation set for Monday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m. in the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd. The featured speaker, Kathleen Newton, will describe the current structure and financing of the Social Security and Medicare systems and provide information about current Congressional legislative initiatives that may affect both programs.

A whistleblower will earn about $430,000 after leading investigators to orthopedic clinics in Reno, Chico and Redlands for their allegedly using discounted and reimported osteoarthritis medications, but billing the government for full value.

The three clinics will pay a combined $2.39 million to resolve federal and state False Claims Act allegations that they knowingly billed federal and state health care programs for the unauthorized viscosupplements.

Barton Memorial Hospital was recently awarded a four star rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Each Medicare certified acute care hospital across the nation receives a patient perception rating between one and five stars based on patient satisfaction surveys. Of the 298 California hospitals assessed, Barton Hospital ranked in the top 14 percent.

When the recession hit and many cities were faced with bankruptcy and skyrocketing healthcare costs for their employees, retirees had benefits cut or renegotiated. The City of South Lake Tahoe survived those turbulent times by taking a look at the costs they could reduce or restructure, and benefits for retirees was one that took a hit.

Now, many of those employees have filed a lawsuit against the City.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, 2015. This enrollment period is one of the few times Medicare beneficiaries can change, enroll into or disenroll from, a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO) or a Part D drug plan. Changes to plans will be effective January 1, 2016.

The 2014 Fall Aging & Caregiver Series will be given for the next six weeks in South Lake Tahoe. This six week series of classes are designed to provide instruction and support for caregivers who are, or are planning to, care for a family member or friend age 60 or older.

All classes are held at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel (formerly Embassy Suites) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must register by calling 530-621-6369 or 800-510-2020. Free in-Home respite is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.

Hospital care can be complex and expensive. Strangely, a short hospital trip may cost more than an extended stay.

Sound familiar? In October 2013, Medicare enacted the “two-midnight rule” to discourage hospital inpatient admissions. Medicare patients staying longer than two midnights in the hospital, excluding discharge, may be considered inpatients. Medicare patients that stay less than two midnights typically receive outpatient or “observation status.”

Expanding access to healthcare in rural communities requires innovation and collaboration. In remote areas like South Lake Tahoe with smaller populations, residents still expect high quality care and individual medical needs vary widely.

To increase specialty medical services available in our community, with consideration that unique medical conditions may not have the demand for a local office, Barton Health launched Telemedicine in 2009.

Dear Community Members, 

In recent months, Barton Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility has been challenged with keeping patients, staff and the facility in its entirety, safe from the effects of the California senate bill, AB97.

If passed, this bill would create devastating cuts to reimbursement for Medi-Cal services provided by distinct part skilled nursing facilities (DP/SNFs) throughout the state, including South Lake Tahoe’s only long- term-care-facility located at Barton Memorial.

Barton Memorial Hospital's skilled nursing facility was recently awarded five stars by Medicare.According Medicare.gov, the five-star quality ratings are: "based on the Omnibus Reconciliation Act o...

Barton Health encourages our community to be protected during flu season by offering affordable vaccinations during convenient dates and times, at the following locations:
Saturday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to noon and again on Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to noon at Barton Family Medicine, 1090 Third Street, South Lake Tahoe.
Saturday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to noon, Barton Urgent Care & Family Practice at Stateline Medical Center, 155 Highway 50, Stateline, Nev.

Ages 3 - 18 FREE.* Cost for ages 19 and older: Seasonal Flu Shot: $20; Pneumonia Vaccine: $35

Important information:

Medicare expert Margaret Reilly will host a community forum explaining Medicare and Health Insurance this Wednesday, October 3rd from 12:30-2pm at the South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Facility located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.
This meeting is for anyone who currently has, or is soon to have Medicare as their primary health insurance. This meeting will also be helpful for anyone who helps relatives or friends with Medicare.
Reilly is the Program Manager for HICAP, California’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and is an expert on Medicare.
See flier below.

WASHINGTON - Get in line, Medicare and Social Security. Seniors, like just about everyone else, have money on their minds.Seniors vote at a higher rate than any other age group, so they'll be a dec...

Many women in rural Nevada have never had a mammogram. Fear, lack of funds, transportation conflicts, or no insurance are just some of the reasons women have not protected themselves against breast cancer. Yet, we know that early detection of breast cancer saves lives.

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(Editor's note: The following ran in the January issue of the Tahoe Mountain News. The second part of the series that examines public agency salaries for managers is in the February issue, on newsstands now.)

Here are the latest salaries and benefits available for the South Lake Tahoe Public Utilities Commission, the South Lake Tahoe City Council, El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, the Douglas County (Nevada) Board of County Commissioners, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District board and the board of the Douglas County School District.

CARSON CITY — Nearly 250 capital city Democrats took time out today to participate in the party caucus, supporting President Barack Obama in a process that held no surprises for the party faithful.
The caucus at the Carson City Middle School was one of 118 held around Nevada today as the state Democrat Party gears up for the 2012 election.
Unlike 2008, when the Democrat nominee was still undecided at the time of the caucus, the nonbinding ballot had two options: the president or uncommitted. Obama was getting strong support among participants.