To Enrich Lives

Our own Shelly Klein, LRT, CRT-NPS; speaking at the Methodist Hospital A.W.A.K.E. meeting January 30, 2012. AWAKE is a support and education group for people who use positive pressure therapy during sleep to keep their airway open.

Cramton Continues Ringing up Round One’s Costs
In addition to staggering drop in claims, only a fraction of contracted providers are making claims.

By David Kopf Jan 26, 2012
The number of Medicare claims has not only dropped during Round One of competitive bidding (read more here), but not all Round One contract providers are filing claims, according to The Hidden Costs of a Flawed Medicare Auction, the now-available, 165-page report from University of Maryland economist and auction model expert Peter Cramton has released. Read more

Flu Season is Here! While seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, flu activity usually peaks in January. Remind your patients that annual vaccination is recommended for optimal protection. Medicare pays for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for seniors and others with Medicare with no co-pay or deductible. Healthcare workers, who may spread the flu to high risk patients, should get vaccinated too. Don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine—Not the Flu.

Remember – The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits.  CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp.  Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. 

For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations.

According to Arthritis Today
By Bryan D. Vargo

Chef and cookbook author Melinda Winner was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis more than 25 years ago. Here she shares her 20 best tips to cooking with arthritis.

Those with the condition might say arthritis is the mother of invention. Chef and cookbook author Melinda Winner couldn’t agree more. Winner was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, more than 25 years ago. Feeling devastated and defeated after gaining 100 pounds from years of eating poorly and being sedentary due to the pain and physical limitations from her RA, Winner knew it was time for a change. Read more

The American Lung Association is pleased to announce the release of its State of Tobacco Control 2012 Report, our tenth annual report, which tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the federal and state level and assigns grades based on whether these laws adequately protect people from the massive burden caused by tobacco use.

The good news? The federal government made major advances but missed one significant opportunity to save lives.

The not-so-good news? Far too many states are lagging behind, putting 10 years of progress in combatting the tobacco epidemic in serious jeopardy.

Only FOUR states received all passing grades, while SIX states received straight “F’s.” Was your state one of them?

Visit www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org to find out.

TAKE ACTION! Find out how to make an impact and save lives in your state.

Thank you for your continued support.