Looking for an attendant? Looking for some help to stay in your own home and community? There is a new resource website that has gone statewide to connect people with disabilities and the elderly with in-home service providers.

Homecarend.com is a free interactive resource meant to link up people who need in-home help with people looking for work to provide the in-home help. You can sign up as a consumer, or as a provider (independent or agency) whichever the case may be. This resource is available to all, whether it be private pay or subsidized through third parties.

Check it out today at www.homecarend.com.

For more information or questions about the North Dakota Personal Assistance Registry, contact Chuck Stebbins at 701-720-2658, or e-mail Charles.stebbins@minotstateu.edu, or call 1-800-233-1737 and ask for Amy or Darren; or e-mail at amy.armstrong@minotstateu.edu, or darren.seifert@minotstateu.edu.

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A new poll of AARP members released today finds strong support across party and ideological lines for elements of health care reform included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. The bill, which strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age and closes the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole, was endorsed by AARP.

Among AARP members, strong majorities reported that many of the bill’s key provisions were convincing reasons to support the legislation. These include strictly limiting insurers from charging much higher premiums because of age (68%), closing the gap in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole (69%) and improving coverage for critical preventive services like cancer screenings (77%).

“This survey demonstrates what we’ve been hearing from our members for a long time,” said Janis Cheney, AARP State Director in North Dakota. “Despite an inflammatory debate on a very personal and important issue, our members—across party and ideological lines—support health care reform that protects Medicare, lowers the price of prescription drugs, increases their access to coverage and protects their choice of doctors.”

While a partisan divide was evident when respondents were asked about the current plan in Congress, AARP members supported the legislation by more than a 2-1 (63%-30%) margin. More than half of self-described independents indicated support for the plan.

Other reform elements with high levels of support among AARP members included ensuring Americans can see the doctor of their choice (76%), stopping insurance companies from denying coverage because of a person’s health history (75%) and ensuring Americans can keep their current coverage (78%). Majorities of self-identified Republicans supported most of the reform elements presented, including stopping discrimination because of pre-existing conditions (66%), covering routine preventive care (64%) and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices (64%).

Cheney added: “The bill recently passed by the House incorporates the reforms that our members care most about. We’ll continue the fight for these critical elements as the Senate takes up its own legislation in the coming weeks. Our members, and all older Americans, are counting on lawmakers to reform the health care system this year.”

Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, AARP will launch a new national television ad on a mix of news, lifestyle, cable and sports channels. The ad, entitled “HELP,” demonstrates that people from all walks of life are feeling stranded by the current health care system. It calls attention to the need for the kind of health care reform AARP has been fighting for: reform that will put patients first, protect Medicare, bring down drug costs and ensure that no one can be denied affordable health care because of their age or health history.

AARP surveyed its members on key health care reform provisions supported by AARP, as well as other contentious issues being discussed in the debate. The telephone survey, fielded Oct. 30 to Nov. 8,  was conducted with randomly selected members of AARP. The nationally representative sample of 803 AARP members has a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

The complete survey is available at http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/health/hcreform/articles/hrhcr.html.

Stay in the know! Sign up to receive e-mail from AARP North Dakota. Have news and announcements from the state office delivered to your in-box. Register at www.aarp.org/stateemail.

The Small Urban and Rural Transit Center at North Dakota State University, with the support of the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium, is conducting a research project on the transportation needs of people with disabilities in North Dakota. If you live in North Dakota and have a disability, you are invited to take a survey about your transportation needs. The survey results can be used by transportation providers to review their existing services, identify needs, and plan improvements. If you would like to contribute to this study and have your opinions represented, you can take the survey online by going to www.surtc.org or clicking on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kw8LRUdDeDDgQZe8YkYZnw_3d_3d.

You can also take the survey by phone by calling Jeremy Mattson at 701-231-5496. All responses will remain confidential.

Stay in the know! Sign up to receive e-mail from AARP North Dakota. Have news and announcements from the state office delivered to your in-box. Register at www.aarp.org/stateemail.

Late Saturday night the U.S. House of Representatives passed critical health care reform legislation that would strengthen Medicare for seniors and end discrimination by insurance companies that prices millions of Americans out of affordable health coverage.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) makes prescription drugs more affordable for seniors by closing the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage and allowing the program to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.

For all Americans – especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance – this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person’s health history or gender. For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance.

“We applaud Representative Earl Pomeroy for supporting this crucial legislation,” said Janis Cheney, AARP state director in North Dakota. “This bill will help millions of older Americans get the health coverage they need, while strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations.”

AARP notified the 111^th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its nearly 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members.

“When Americans understand the issues and where their lawmakers stand, they can make smart decisions. AARP will be there to give our members, as well as all Americans, the most accurate information we can,” Cheney said.

AARP members can see how their representatives voted on health care reform by going to www.aarp.org/governmentwatch. AARP’s Government Watch is a one-stop online portal that will be tracking and publicizing every designated key vote on issues facing Americans age 50-plus.   A “Key Vote Summary” highlighting votes on these issues will be published at the end of each congressional session.

Stay in the know! Sign up to receive e-mail from AARP North Dakota. Have news and announcements from the state office delivered to your in-box. Register at www.aarp.org/stateemail.

Since we began our latest battle for comprehensive health care reform more than two years ago, AARP has fought for a health care bill that provides quality, affordable health coverage options for all Americans and protects Medicare for seniors and for future generations.

We have read the House of Representatives’ Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961), and we can say with confidence that they meet our priorities for protecting Medicare and reforming our health care system.

For the more than 45 million Americans in Medicare – 84,000 in North Dakota alone – the House plan completely closes the dangerous gap in prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, adds cost-free preventive benefits like cancer screenings, cracks down on waste and fraud and protects the traditional Medicare benefits people in the program rely on.

For all Americans – including our younger members who often struggle to find affordable insurance (an estimated 13,000 in North Dakota between the ages of 50 to 64 are uninsured) – the House plan makes coverage more affordable by strictly limiting how much more insurance companies charge based on age. Americans will also no longer be denied coverage based on health history or discriminated against because of gender, and those who still cannot afford insurance on their own will receive help to purchase affordable coverage.

In addition, the House plan begins to repair the country’s outdated system of long-term care with new provisions to help people prepare for their long-term care needs and live in their own homes as they grow older.

While AARP is pleased to see that H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961 include many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50+ have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn’t over. That’s why we’re going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill.

And, as the legislative process moves forward, we’ve let Congress and the Administration know that we will fight with the strength of our nearly 40 million members against any proposal that would hurt rather than help Medicare and older Americans’ access to affordable, quality health care.

We will continue to provide the information you need to decide for yourself what the health reform will mean to you. For information on the latest developments, go to www.aarp.org/getthefacts.

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AARP will make an important Health Care Reform announcement today at 10:30 a.m. Central Standard Time. You can watch it live by clicking here: http://bit.ly/HCRlive.

The North Dakota Department of Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Commerce want to remind individuals and families concerned about winter heating costs that help is available.

The two agencies work together with county social service offices and community action agencies to assist low-income households with heating-related needs.

The federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by Human Services can pay for part of the heating costs of qualifying households, as well as weatherization services and furnace repairs.

According to Human Services officials, the state LIHEAP program paid an average of $919 in heating energy costs per participating household last year.  The program typically pays fuel vendors directly. 

Saving money on heating also involves conservation measures. The Commerce Department administers the federal Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, which works to increase the energy efficiency of homes owned or occupied by low-income persons.

An energy auditor visits qualifying households to determine the best weatherization options to reduce energy costs and ensure safety. The program may pay for caulking, weather stripping, insulation in attics, walls, and floors; appropriate home repairs, and furnace repair or replacement.

To avoid duplication, Human Services contracts with Commerce for weatherization and furnace repair and replacement services. The Department of Commerce’s Community Services Division, in turn, works closely with the local community action agencies that provide many of the direct services.

Each program has different criteria. The LIHEAP program has income and asset limits to ensure help goes to those most in need. To qualify, a household can earn up to 60 percent of the state median income, which for a family of three equals $33,860 per year.

People can apply for LIHEAP heating assistance at their county social service office.  Applicant information is confidential.  An application is also available online at www.nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn00529.pdf and can be completed and returned to a county office.

Last heating season, the state LIHEAP program helped just over 16,000 North Dakota households.  Tribal LIHEAP programs also served state residents.

Criteria for the Commerce Department’s Weatherization Assistance program are slightly different.  A family of three earning up to $36,620 may qualify. A list of qualifying income levels and other information are on the Web at www.communityservices.nd.gov/energy/weatherization-assistance/.

People can apply for Weatherization Assistance online at www.communityservices.nd.gov/energy/weatherization-assistance/weatherization-application/.

Individuals who do not qualify for either of these government programs should contact their utility companies for an energy audit and recommendations and to set up a balanced payment plan to spread heating costs throughout the year. They can also contact the Community Action Agency in their area for other possible assistance.

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Medicare Part D enrollment period has started. Seniors are starting to receive phone calls from a woman and man who claim to be from Medicare. They team up to request the Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account numbers and credit card numbers.

The scam works like this: A female caller: “This is (name), and I’m calling from Medicare. Your file has been flagged for Part D enrollment or a change in Medicare, and I’m calling to verify your Medicare needs.” While on the phone, the caller tries to collect your Medicare number. Once the Medicare number is collected, the Medicare beneficiary is transferred to a male caller. He verifies the information and transfers the call to a third person. This third step is used to convince the senior into revealing bank account numbers and credit card numbers, often with a series of misleading questions bent on “verifying your information so you can keep your health coverage” or “enroll in Part D for 2010.”

A few beneficiaries have reported they did give the callers their Medicare, Social Security, bank account, and credit card numbers. Once these fraudulent people have your personal information it is easy to re-populate that information to whatever forms that are necessary to access services, summit false claims, drain bank accounts or commit ID theft for their own gain. Within 15 minutes after a call of this type is made to a victim, a new purchase can be charged to your card.

Victims believe they are getting a call from Medicare. Medicare does not call beneficiaries to request personal information. If anyone receives such a call, HANG-UP. Don’t be pressured to provide information or buy something. Do not give out Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers over the phone.

You may report these calls to the State Health Insurance Counseling program at 1-888-575-6611, or 1-800 MEDICARE. Also report this type of call to your bank and credit card provider right away.

Reprinted from the November issue of the North Dakota Insurance Department RxConnector.

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