Interagency Council

May 10, 2012

New Hire availability at Home Helpers for PCA, HCA and HCA’s Contact Home Helpers directly for additional information.

Events-  Community Connections on May 5 went very well.  Thank you for World Co. for their support.  A survey will go out soon.

            -SAIL is offering Waiver Info Sessions, CHANGES Sessions, Coasters for a Cause Tickets, several Volunteer Opportunities.

            -Home Front- Washington County Housing Rehab. 518-747-8250 has up to $50,000 for 10 households for home improvements.

Shelter Planning- Working with SAIL and NHTD for Emods.  Income eligibility specific, call 518-798-6627.

Vet Help- Leslie Carrol spoke about the availability of assistance to Veterans.  There are 2 homeless shelters in Saratoga County.  One female shelter that can house 11 females and one male shelter that can house 12 male veterans.  They have an transitional building in Wilton for families with a two year lease, or as long as needed.  Average stay has been about 10 months.  All issues need to be addressed, medical, physical and mental before one can be released, and they must have a source of income.  There is case management on site for their assistance.  Leslie tells us there is a duplex in Ballston Spa as well.  These shelters provide a great environment of understanding for Veterans.  The shelters provide family counseling, all health services with transportation.

Paul Stoke offers help to widows for a “benefit search”.  Contact him at 885-0673x208.

There is also a Womens Vet Retreat in Lake George every summer, generally in August.  Leslie has additional information on all noted above and can be reached at 885-0091 or 885-0673x208.

Erica Walker- Community Health Advocate form Adirondack Health Institute, formerly Upper Hudson Primary Consortium.  She works on a grant funded program for insurance advocacy named “Affordable Care Act”.  This Act provides information regarding several areas on insurance one may not be aware of.  Such as; covering a dependant until age 26 even if they are married, Cobra until 29, Senior Care- closing the donut hole, eliminating “pre-existing condition” for minors up to 19.  She offers help with insurance eligibility, enrollment services.  Medicaid, family health plus.

NYS Bridge Plan- $362 a month for those with pre-existing conditions.  Must be without insurance for months with pre existing.  This will last until 01/01/2014.  She advocates Patient assistance rates to decrease office visit fees, decrease or allow free meds!

January 01/01/2012 it will be MANDATORY everyone has medical insurance or there will be a $90.00 fine imposed.

Erica works for 6 counties, excluding Saratoga.  Her office is at 9 Carey Road in Queensbury and can be reached at 518-761-0300x31252.

Next Meeting- 06/14/2012

Interagency Council:

Next Meeting-May 10, 2012

At the Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center

Meeting Minutes: 4/12/2012

Chairwomen: Allison Reynolds and Judith McKinnon

Treasurer: Fred Ratto

Secretary: Jocelyn Blanchard, Barb Potvin

Welcome

-          We have been offered a reduced cost grant writing training. Please email Debra Obenhoff (debra@homehelpersny.com) if you are interested in reserving a spot for this training (if we have significant interest we will be scheduling a date to be given out later).

-          Community Connections Day materials are here!  If you are looking for some to hand out to your world please see Allison Reynolds at SAIL (792-3537). Table registration will be available through the end of the week email Debra if you are still wanting to come (debra@homehelpersny.com).

-          May 29th: Overcoming Barriers to Service Delivery (see Judith McKinnon at SAIL for table registrations, limited to 15 registrations: jmck@sail-center.org, 792-3537) will be held at 1st Baptist Church, 100 Maple Street in Glens Falls.  Community discussion of service delivery, food distribution, and homelessness in our area starting at 1pm.

North Country Ministries:

- focus on car seat safety and their car seat distribution program.

·         90% of car seats are improperly installed.

·         Car seats cannot be in the front seat of a car.

·         They brought 3 car seats (infant, a convertible car seat, and a convertible booster).

·         Car seats are only good for 6 years.

·         Car seats are mandatory through the ninth birthday or 47 inches tall.

·         Watch out for back seat bullets (any loose things in the car that in an accident become dangerous).  Buckle unused seat belts to prevent them from flying around the vehicle.

Their services includes the car seat distribution to needy families but the most underutilized and most important service is car seat inspection and safety evaluation.

-          two coming up one at head start and the other is at North Country Ministries.

Gene Dumlao

EPIC-

-          for seniors 65 years or older to assist with prescription costs

-          there was a battle for coverage this last year that we ended up on the bottom side of

-          doesn't work until the Donut Hole-Coverage Gap ($2930 total cost- $4700 out of pocket in 2012)

-          EPIC now requires all members to Medicare Part D (no more exceptions)

-          EPIC is free with no fees or deductibles (for 2012)

-          EPIC is a safety net (if something happens you have coverage) that can help in case of unforseen medication needs

-          EPIC pays the Medicare D premium (incomes up to $23,00 for singles and $29,000 if married)

-          RESTORATION of EPIC- this year the budget passed for 2013 is opening the service to outside of the donut hole.  This will start January 1, 2013 ($30.6 Million restored to EPIC) printed version to come soon.

Changes in Medicare Services:

-          distributed list of Medicare Preventative Services Checklist (in 2012 any of these screenings are to be free with Medicare, within the time tables presented)

-          addition of two new preventative services (alcohol abuse and depression screenings now free)

Observation status- Mike Burgess former director of NYSOFA

-          During hospitalization there is a brochure distributed to bring with you to the hospital.

·         Have with you insurance information, telephone numbers of emergency contacts (including primary physician, recent test, lab and x-rays results, list of all medication and doses, list of allergies to food and medicine, and a copy of health care proxy and advanced directives.

·         Have a copy of your health care proxy with your primary doctor or on record with the hospital

·         It is important in the hospital to know your admission status (observation status, outpatient, can last up to 48 hours).  This status can change whether your Medicare Part A pays for your visit or if it will be under Part B coverage.  If a patient has not been admitted for three days, then Medicare will not pay for any nursing home care for rehabilitation or other purposes and the patient will be financially responsible for this expensive care.

·         Patients who are dissatisfied with the quality of care received in the hospital, you or a family member or caregiver should report this concern t a doctor or nurse. If problems are not resolved, a formal complaint can be made to the Patient Representative in the hospital.  If a patient disagrees with a hospital's discharge decision, an appeal can be made with IPRO, the contracted agency to review complaints.  Once an appeal is made, a patient has 24 hours from the time a decision is made to leave the facility.  Medicare will provide coverage during the appeal.

-    contacts: IPRO 1-800-648-4776

-    concerns about quality of care can be made to NYS DOH at 1-800-804-5447 or at night or on the weekends at 518-402-1003

-    NYSwide Senior Action council Patients Rights Helpline 1-800-333-4374

·         All hospitals in NYS are required to develop a written discharge plan which must be agreed to and signed by the patient or the health care proxy. (You have the right to request everything in writing)

-    make all necessary preparations before coming home to prevent additional falls and readmissions: supplies like walker, hospital bed, shower chair, oxygen and other supplies. Make any necessary home modifications and ensure there are safety precautions including adequate lighting, grab bars, and securing loose carpeting.

-    Schedule and keep health care appointments

-    know your limitation and what symptoms to be aware of

-email swnys@aol.com to get onto their email list

-nysenior.org is their website with information and newsletters