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News Articles From 08/00
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 HMO
Medicare Pullout Has Some Seniors Worried
Sixty-five Medicare+Choice HMOs chose not to renew their Medicare+Choice
contracts and 53 reduced their service areas, affecting more than 934,000
Medicare beneficiaries. About 775,000 of the affected beneficiaries will be
able to enroll in another Medicare HMO, if the HMO is accepting enrollees.
About 17 percent or 159,000 of the remaining beneficiaries will be left with
no Medicare+Choice HMO options, although some may choose to enroll in a
private fee-for-service plan if one is available in their community. All
beneficiaries who are affected by these nonrenewals may return to original
fee-for-service Medicare.
HCFA is continuing to do all that it can to ease the
transition for affected beneficiaries resulting from business decisions by
private sector managed care companies and ensure that they receive the
rights and protections guaranteed by law.
U.S.
Treasury Department Announces Electronic Transfer Account (ETA
The U.S. Treasury Department along with other community-based organizations
announces the Electronic Transfer Account (ETA), which is a new electronic
payment tool that offers a low-cost alternative to receiving paper checks.
ETA was specifically designed for anyone without a bank account who receives
a Federal benefit (Social Security, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans
benefits), wage, salary or retirement payment. It also offers a safe,
secure, and convenient way for people receiving Federal benefits to have
access to their funds automatically through electronic funds transfer.
The ETA is now available at more than 500 federally
insured banks, savings and loans, and credit unions . . . and the list
continues to grow. There are nearly 5,000 locations in 49 states, the
District of Columbia and three U.S. territories.
ETA
Seeking Comments Regarding Free Tax Preparation and e-file via the Internet
Many people would file income taxes through the Internet
if the service was free. Today filing must be done through a commercial provider
like Intuit. Mandated by the President, the IRS must work with private industry
to ensure that taxpayers are able to prepare individual income taxes and file
them electronically via the Internet for FREE by Tax Year 2002. Through the
Request for Information (RFI) process, the Office of Electronic Tax
Administration (ETA) is seeking comments from members of private industry and
the general public regarding free tax preparation and electronic filing via the
Internet for all taxpayers. The RFI comment period has been extended through
September 22, 2000. For more information visit http://208.197.188.3/opportun.htm.
Well-Being
Improves for Most Older People, But Not For All, New Federal Report Says
Older Americans are living longer and living better than
ever before. But many of those age 65 and older face disability, chronic
health conditions, or economic stress, according to a new federal indicators
report that describes the status of the nation’s older population. This is
the first in a continuing series planned by the Federal Interagency Forum on
Aging-Related Statistics, a consortium of U.S. government agencies working
together to improve the quality and usefulness of data on older Americans.
disAbility.gov Announced - A New Access America Site
On July 26, 2000, in conjunction with the celebration of the
10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Clinton
announced a new website, Access America for People with Disabilities or
disAbility.gov. This site, created by the Presidential Task Force on the
Employment of Adults with Disabilities, will serve as a one-stop information
source on Federal programs, services, and resources of interest to Americans
with disabilities, their families, employers, and service providers. It will
also serve to promote awareness of disability issues to the general public.
 Social
Security Celebrates it's 65th Birthday With the Dedication of its 65th
Anniversary Garden at SSA Headquarters
On August 14, 2000 Social Security Commissioner Kenneth
Apfel dedicated a 65th Anniversary Garden on the grounds of SSA headquarters
in Baltimore. The Garden is dedicated to the thousands of Social Security
employees, past and present, who have labored to build this American
Cornerstone.
Net
Appliance Targets Seniors
Sageport is planning
to release, later this year, a combination Internet appliance and service
geared toward seniors. Called the Dot Station, it is designed for
simplicity. According to Sageport President Brian Deutsch, you simply
"plug it into the wall and telephone, turn it on, and it goes right to
the Net."
Treasury
Announces New E-Commerce Web Sites
Deputy Treasury Secretary Stuart Eizenstat announced last
week two new electronic initiatives that will serve as government-wide
payment and collection portals and will allow users to oversee securities
and financial reports online. Pay.gov, developed by Treasury's
Financial Management Service's Electronic Money Program Office, will allow
citizens, businesses and federal agencies to process transactions, such as
government collection of fees, fines, sales, leases, loans, and certain
taxes, on the Web.
Medication
Reduces Metabolism of Nicotine, Decreasing Urge to Smoke
Researchers at the University of Toronto
have found that a medication that partially blocks the body's ability to
break down nicotine significantly improves the effectiveness of oral
nicotine replacement in reducing a smoker's urge for nicotine. In addition,
when smokers on the medication do light up, they take fewer and shorter
puffs on each cigarette, the scientists say.
House
Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Identifying Supports People with Disabilities
Need to Achieve Independence
On July 13th, the House Committee on Ways and Means,
Subcommittee on Social Security, held a meeting to discuss the
characteristics of people with severe disabilities and identifying the
supports they need to achieve independence. They also examined how
disability systems in other countries and the private sector have adapted to
meet the changing needs of people with disabilities.
The
President Signs S. 1515 (P.L. 106-245) - The "Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act Amendments of 2000"
On July 10, 2000, the President signed into law S. 1515 (P.L.
106-245), the "Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of
2000." This law broadens and expands upon the Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act, which authorizes monetary compensation to individuals who
were present or nearby when nuclear weapons tests were conducted, or who
worked in uranium mines, and later developed certain diseases.
HHS
Releases $41.75 Million in Emergency Energy Assistance
President Clinton has directed HHS Secretary Donna E.
Shalala to release $41.75 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP) emergency funds for eight states in the south who are
suffering from extremely hot weather and Alaska for the disastrously low
salmon run.
Apply
online for a replacement Medicare card
"Medicare beneficiaries will now be able to
apply online for a replacement Medicare Card at their
convenience," said Deputy
Commissioner Halter. "We are pleased to partner with the
Health Care Financing Administration to make obtaining a replacement
Medicare Card easy and convenient for beneficiaries."
Report
recommends stricter guidelines at nursing homes
Many nursing homes are so understaffed they may be
endangering the welfare of their patients, according to a new report
by federal health officials.
Long
Term Care And Life Insurance Combined Into One Insurance Premium
Firms are addressing end-of-life scenarios that apply
to death and chronic maladies by combine Long Term Care and Life
Insurance into one premium. There is a growing concern that living
longer presents a threat to older American's finances. Insuring
against being financially ruined by a degenerative illness sounds like
a good idea, but experts say to be cautious.
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