Thursday, October 21, 2010

Pomeroy Outs Republican Plan on Social Security


Ways and Means Social Security Chairman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) today released the results of a study from the Chief Actuary of Social Security analyzing several proposals, including those advanced by Republican Congressional leaders, as ways to reduce the long-term cost of Social Security. The analysis reveals that, contrary to the assertions by their proponents, these proposals would have a profoundly negative impact on the retirement security of middle-class seniors in addition to high-income retirees. ...

The Office of the Chief Actuary analyzed several proposals - including those by Budget Committee Ranking Member, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) - that claim to make "modest" changes affecting higher-income seniors in order to "save" Social Security.

"The new analysis reveals that these proposals result in benefits cuts ranging from ten percent to as high as 50 percent,” continued Pomeroy.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

No Changes in COLA, SGA, etc for 2011


Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

SSA Terms Defined - IRWE

IRWE = Impairment-Related Work Expenses

SSA deducts the cost of items and services that you need to work because of your impairment (e.g., attendant care services, medical devices, etc.) when they decide if you are engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). It does not matter if you also need the items for normal daily activities. They can usually deduct the cost of these same items from earned income to figure your SSI payment.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Thursday, October 14, 2010

President Pens WIPA Into Budget Through 2011

Statement by the Press Secretary


On October 13, 2010, the President signed into law:

H.R. 946, the “Plain Writing Act of 2010,” which requires Federal agencies to use plain writing in certain government documents that are issued to the public;

H.R. 3219, the “Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010,” which makes changes in several veterans' affairs programs and benefits, including: (1) insurance; (2) disability compensation and pension; (3) education, employment, and small business; (4) housing and homeless veterans' programs; (5) memorial affairs; (6) civil relief issues; and (7) construction;

H.R. 4543, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in San Jose, California, as the “Anthony J. Cortese Post Office Building;”

H.R. 5341, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Brighton, Michigan, as the “Joyce Rogers Post Office Building;”

H.R. 5390, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Cleveland, Ohio, as the “David John Donafee Post Office Building;”

H.R. 5450, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Los Angeles, California, as the “Tom Bradley Post Office Building;” and

H.R. 6200, the “WIPA and PABSS Extension Act of 2010,” which reauthorizes, through FY 2011, Social Security Administration work incentive and support programs designed to help certain beneficiaries, including those with disabilities, return to the workforce.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Services Covered by North Dakota Medicaid


Medicaid covers a specific list of medical services. Some covered services have limitations or restrictions. It is a recipient's responsibility to ask a medical provider whether a particular service being provided is covered by Medicaid. Do not assume that all of the medical services you receive are covered and paid by Medicaid. Non-covered medical services are the recipient's responsibility. The services listed below are a general listing, some covered services have limitations or restrictions.

Hospital

Inpatient: Covers room and board, regular nursing services, supplies and equipment, operating and delivery room, X-rays, lab and therapy.

Outpatient: Covers emergency room services and supplies, lab, X-ray, therapies, drugs and biologicals, and outpatient surgery.

Nursing Facility

Covers room and board, nursing care, therapies, general medical supplies, wheelchairs, and durable medical equipment.

Clinics, Rural Health Clinics

Covers outpatient medical services and supplies furnished under the direction of a doctor.

Hospice

Provides health care and support services to terminally ill individuals and their families.

Physicians

Covers medical and surgical services performed by a doctor; supplies and drugs given at the doctor's office; and X-rays and laboratory tests needed for diagnosis and treatment.

Prescription Drugs

Covers a wide range of, but not all, prescription drugs, insulin, family planning prescriptions, supplies, and devices. Requires a prescription from a doctor. Pharmacists can tell you if a particular drug is covered by Medicaid.

Chiropractor

Covers X-rays and manual manipulation of the spine for certain diagnosis.

Health Tracks (EPDST)

Covers screening and diagnostic services to determine physical and mental status, and treatment to correct or eliminate defects or chronic conditions and help prevent health problems from occurring for children under 21. Also covers orthodontia and vaccinations.

Home Health

Covers nursing care, therapy and medical supplies when provided in a recipient's home. Care must be ordered by a physician and provided by a home health agency.

Durable Medical Equipment and Supplies

Covers medical supplies such as oxygen and catheters and reusable equipment that is primarily medical in nature. Items must be medically necessary and do not include exercise equipment, personal comfort or environmental control equipment.

Dental

Covers exams, X-rays, cleaning, fillings, surgery, extractions, crowns, root canals, dentures (partial and full) and anesthesia.

Family Planning

Covers diagnosis and treatment, drugs, supplies, devices, procedures and counseling for persons of child bearing age.

Sterilization

Covers sterilization procedures if: (1) The recipient is at least 21 years old; (2) The recipient is legally competent; (3) The recipient signs an informed consent form; and (4) At least 30 days but not more than 180 days have passed between the signing of the consent form and the sterilization.

Podiatry

Covers office visits, supplies, X-rays, glucose and culture checks, and surgery procedures.

Mental Health

Covers psychiatric and psychological evaluations, inpatient services in a psychiatric unit of a hospital, individual-group-family psychotherapy, partial hospitalization services, and inpatient psychiatric and residential treatment centers services for individuals under 21 for the care and treatment of metal illness or disorders.

Ambulance

Covers ground and air ambulance trips, attendant, oxygen, and mileage when medically necessary to transport a recipient to the closest health care facility meeting his needs. House Bill 1282 permits ambulance personnel to refuse transport to an individual where medical necessity cannot be demonstrated and recommend an alternative course of action for the individual. If the ambulance was not medically necessary, Medicaid will not pay for the service.

Transportation

Covers non-emergency transportation services to and from the recipient's home to the closest medical provider capable of providing a medically necessary examination or treatment.

Vision

Covers exam, glasses, frames and some hard contact lenses for the correction of certain conditions. Replacement eyeglasses may only be provided after a minimum of 12 months for children under 21 or 36 months for adults if a lens change is medically necessary. An exception to the replacement limitation may be made if new eyeglasses are required for a significant change in correction and the eyeglasses are prior approved. Lost or broken glasses for individuals over 21 will not be replaced within the first three years.

Therapies

Covers physical and occupational therapy and speech and language pathology.

Waivered Services - Home and Community Based Services, Traumatic Brain Injury

Provides personal care and other services not otherwise covered under the Medicaid program to individuals who are at risk of institutionalization in a nursing facility.

Out-of-State Services

Medically necessary covered services may be provided outside of North Dakota if the services are not available within North Dakota and have been prior approved by the department or if the services are provided in an emergency situation.


Source: Website of the North Dakota Department of Human Services at http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/medicaid/covered.html.



Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Obama Signs Rosa's Law

Today, President Barack Obama signed into law Rosa's Law, which will change references in federal law from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability", and references to a "mentally retarded individual" to an "individual with an intellectual disability"

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com