Health Care Decoded

If you find the world of health insurance to be confusing, you’re not alone. Many people have a difficult time sorting through the buzzwords and terminology to figure out exactly what they need to know about their health insurance coverage. We’ve rounded up some of the top health insurance terms you’re likely to hear. And we’ve broken them down to explain what they really mean.

More from CDPHP.

A video about the hidden costs of soda

From here:

Americans drink more soda than anyone else on earth. And it’s no wonder we keep reaching for soda over water, coffee and juice–soda is addictive. From morning to night, many of us rely on a steady stream of sugary, caffeinated soda to power us through long hours sitting in front of steering wheels, computer screens, dinner tables and televisions. Like gas-powered cars and high-speed internet, Coke and Pepsi products are just another fixture in most Americans daily lives.

It may be time to confront our soda addiction. Just as lifestyle diseases like Type II Diabetes and obesity grow to epidemic proportions in the U.S., the average American now consumes 20 oz of soda every day.

OTC meds will need Rx for Health Flex Spending

I believe there are some really good aspects of the new health care bill. This is not one of them: Over-the-counter medications will require a prescription to buy them with flexible spending account funds next year under new health care reform regulations. "The health care reform law sharply restricts FSA reimbursements for OTC purchases such as nonprescription pain relievers, cold medicines, antacids and allergy medications." Insulin is specifically excluded from this ruling.

Specifically, "the IRS says OTC reimbursements require a prescription, which it defines as a 'written or electronic order for a medicine or drug that meets the legal requirements of a prescription in the state in which a medical expense is incurred and that is issued by an individual who is legally authorized to issue a prescription in that state,'" whatever THAT means.

State Library launches Lifelines Website: Working with Digital Citizens

A new State Library website entitled Information Lifelines provides access to library and statewide e-resources to help patrons access online support services.

The Lifelines site supports civic engagement in a digital world and provides a reason for using broadband as a tool for daily living. Resources for families and children, older adults, veterans, career support, and municipal services, such as the temporary disability benefit screening, have been rolled into one-click web tool for information discovery.

In a difficult economy, library patrons are seeking support for services from library staff more than ever. The State Library has launched the Lifelines website to help New Yorkers find high quality and relevant information for key services and as a supporting resource for library staff in a time of personnel cutbacks, library closures and the reduction of library staff available to prepare guides for patrons seeking guidance and support.

The Information Lifelines site can also be purposed as a helping hand or teaching tool for libraries in working with special populations to help build confidence in navigating the Internet. The site links to outreach pages within the State Library and many external resources that New Yorkers may want to consult to cope with a challenging economy.

Visit the Information Lifelines site and send your comments and suggestions for developing this resource to Elizabeth Carrature, the Division of Library Development, The New York State Library, by email: ecarratu@mail.nysed.gov or by phone: 518-486-2888.

Title II of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Takes Effect

On November 21, 2009 Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) took effect. GINA prohibits discrimination by health insurers and employers based on individuals' genetic information. Genetic information includes the results of genetic tests to determine whether someone is at increased risk of acquiring a condition (such as some forms of breast cancer) in the future, as well as a person's family medical history. For more information about Title I provisions of the law relating to health coverage read The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008: Information for Researchers and Health Care Professionals.

Main Library Health Fair September 30

More than a dozen service organizations will provide free health screenings and medical information at the Lunch Hour Health Fair at Albany Public Library’s Main Library, 161 Washington Avenue, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. .

Health fair attendees will be able to: find out about free and low-cost health care providers and insurance options; get answers to Medicare Part D and EPIC questions; consult a pharmacist and a nutritionist; sign up for a free mammogram; test blood pressure, vision, and blood glucose levels; get private, confidential AIDS testing; try the Wii Fit program; get a chair massage; and enjoy snacks from Honest Weight Food Co-op.

For more information, call 427-4303.

Tonko Town Meeting tomorrow on Health Care

Congressman Paul Tonko will hold a Town Meeting, Tuesday, August 25th, on Health Care Reform, at the Elm Avenue Park in Delmar, Town of Bethlehem. Meeting will take place in the large pavilion at the far end of the road in the park.

Cong. John Conyers to Speak in Albany on Sunday March 29th on Single Payer Health Care for All

Faith Groups to Speak to the Moral Right to Health Care *

*Albany, NY- Congressman John Conyers will be in Albany for a Congressional Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, March 29th from 2-4:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street in Albany (1/2 block west of State Capitol). *

The Town Hall Meeting, sponsored by the Albany Presbytery, is one of ten nationwide meetings funded by the Presbyterian Church USA to open discussion of Single Payer Health Care for the United States. A major focus of the event will be the moral right of all Americans to have health care. Faith representatives will participate in a panel discussion, including Chandlee Gill of the Albany Presbytery, Dr. Richard Propp of the B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation (Albany) and Yussouf Mir of the Islamic Center of the Capital District. A representative of the Methodist Church will also speak.

Congressman Conyers is the lead sponsor of HR 676, the US National Health Care Act, Single Payer Medicare for All bill in Congress. The bill, which would replace private health insurance with a single public financing system to provide comprehensive coverage for everyone in the nation, has the most support of any universal health care proposal now in Congress. It also is the plan that is most favored by the American public, doctors, nurses and researchers. Congressman Conyers participated in the recent White House Forum on Health Care to advocate for Single Payer Health Care.

Single payer legislation is also pending in both houses of the NYS Legislature and a state study on various universal health care options is due shortly after the budget is released.

Congressman Paul Tonko, a co-sponsor of HR 676 also will participate in the Town Hall Meeting. Governor Paterson, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and Representative Hinchey also have been invited.

Dr. Andy Coates of the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) Capital District Chapter will answer some of the basic questions regarding single payer health care.

Co Sponsors of the event include: Albany Presbytery, Capital Area Council of Churches, Interdenominational Ministers Conference, Fifth Avenue AME Zion Church of Troy, Labor Religion Coalition of NY State, Single Payer New York, Capital District Area Labor Federation, Capital DistrictAlliance for Universal Health Care, Solidarity Committee of Program (PNHP) Capital District Chapter, Albany Medical College Student PNHP Chapter,Hunger Action Network of NYS and Faith and Hunger Network

For More Information: Rev. Cass Shaw, 518 273-4991
Mark Dunlea, Single Payer NY, 518 434-7371 xt 1#

League of Women Voters Health Care Reform Program

SECOND LWV HEALTH CARE REFORM PROGRAM
Tuesday, October 9, 7-9 p.m.
in the McChesney Room of the Schenectady Public Library
corner of Liberty and Clinton, Schenectady

Courtney Burke, Policy Analyst at the Rockefeller Intitue of Government will present some of the current proposals before Congress, as well as proposals being advanced by presidential candidates. Discussion will follow.

The Presidential primary in New York State is less than 6 months away. Health Care Reform is one of the most important issues facing our country and on the minds of voters. An estimated 47 million Americans are without health insurance. About as many others are underinsured. In 2004, Elizabeth Warren of Harvard Law School published a study showing an estimated 50% of personal bankruptcies followed a medical crisis. Of those who filed personal bankruptcy, 75% had health insurance.

What are the most important aspects of reform being proposed by presidential candidates and legislators? How do these proposals differ? What can be done to assure that meaningful reform is on the agenda of the next President?

The program is free and open to the public.