The theme for Older Americans Month 2012—Never Too Old to Play!—puts a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. This year’s celebrations will recognize the value that older adults continue to bring to our communities through spirited participation in social and faith groups, service organizations, and other activities.

As large numbers of baby-boomers reach retirement age, many communities have increased their efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for older adults—many of whom remain physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond.  Current trends show that people over age 60 account for an ever-growing percentage of participants in community service positions, faith-based organizations, online social networking as well as arts and recreational groups.

Lifelong participation in social, creative, and physical activities has proven health benefits, including retaining mobility, muscle mass, and cognitive abilities. But older adults are not the only ones who benefit from their engagement in community life.

Studies show their interactions with family, friends, and neighbors across generations enrich the lives of everyone involved. Young people who have significant relationships with a grandparent or elder report that these relationships helped shape their values, goals, and life choices and gave them a sense of identity and roots.

While the LOA Area Agency on Aging provides services, support, and resources to older Americans year-round, Older Americans Month is a great opportunity to show special appreciation for some of our most beloved citizens. We have many reasons to celebrate them!

LOA is joining in the national celebration of Older Americans Month 2012 with activities and events to promote intergenerational engagement and recreation. We invite you to join in the fun!

available.

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service

If you get Social Security or other federal benefit payments by paper check, you are required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment method by March 1, 2013.

Don’t wait. Switch now to one of the two electronic payment options recommended by the Treasury Department: direct deposit to a checking or savings account or the Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card.

There are many reasons why you should make the switch now. Getting your payments electronically saves taxpayers money. It also helps protect your payments from financial crimes and delivery disruptions caused by severe weather and other unforeseen events.

It’s fast, easy and free to make the switch today. You can switch at your local federal benefit agency office, online at www.GoDirect.org or by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795. For direct deposit, you can also switch at your bank or credit union.

For more information, visit www.GoDirect.org or view the Go Direct^®instructional video.

FACT SHEET

 The U.S. Department of the Treasury is requiring all federal benefit recipients to get their payments electronically.

• The Treasury Department announced in December 2010 that it is phasing out paper checks as a payment option for federal benefit payments.
•  Everyone who currently receives a federal benefit payment by paper check is required to switch to an electronic payment by March 1, 2013.
•  Anyone who is newly applying for federal benefit payments will receive their payments electronically from day one. They should be ready to choose an electronic payment option when they fill out their application.
•  People who do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013, or at the time they apply for federal benefits, will receive their payments via the Direct Express^® card so they will not experience any interruption in payment.

There are many reasons why the Treasury Department is requiring electronic payments.

Electronic payments save taxpayers money. They also offer federal benefit recipients the following advantages:

•  Safety – No risk of lost or stolen checks.
• Reliability – No delays caused by severe weather or other unforeseen events.
• Ease – No need to make a trip to cash or deposit a check.
• Fast Access – Money is accessible sooner.

 There Are Two Treasury-Recommended Electronic Payment Options.

The Treasury Department recommends two electronic payment options for federal benefits:

•  Direct deposit. People with checking or savings accounts can sign up to get their money by direct deposit. Their federal benefit payment will go straight into their account on payment day each month. On time, every time.
• Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card. Those who don’t have a bank account or who prefer a prepaid debit card, should switch to the Direct Express^® card. Money will be posted to the card account on payment day each month. Cardholders can make purchases and get cash back with purchases at no charge anywhere Debit MasterCard^® is accepted. For information on card fees and features, visit www.GoDirect.org.

Signing up for electronic payments is fast, free and easy.

It’s fast, easy and free to switch to electronic payments today. People can sign up:

• At their bank or credit union (direct deposit only) or their local federal agency office
• Online at the Treasury Department’s Go Direct^®website,www.GoDirect.org
• By calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795

There are a few pieces of information needed to make the switch to electronic payments.

To help ensure a smooth enrollment process, people should have on hand:

• Social Security number or claim number
• 12-digit federal benefit check number
• Amount of most recent federal benefit check
• Financial institution’s routing transit number* (for direct deposit only)
• Account number and type – checking or savings* (for direct deposit only)

*This information is usually found at the bottom of personal checks.

March marks the 40^th anniversary of the Administration on Aging’s Nutrition Program. Programs funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA) are more important than ever as Americans are living longer than in the past. AoA’s Nutrition Program provides meals and related nutrition services to older Americans in congregate settings, including senior centers. The Program also funds the delivery of meals to homebound older Americans.

In 1972, Congress added the Nutrition Program to the Older Americans Act (OAA). It’s been 40 years since this most visible and popular program funded under the OAA has been implemented throughout the United States and its territories. Since 1972 over 8 billion nutritious meals have been served to older adults in senior or community centers, or delivered to their homes.

From the beginning this program was designed to help reduce hunger and malnutrition. Hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition lead to poorer health outcomes and decreased functionality. This program was designed to increase socialization, not only for congregate participants, but also those who are homebound. Research indicates that social interconnectedness and active social engagement improve health outcomes and quality of life. Adequate quality nutrition is essential for health as well as reducing and managing the risk of chronic disease. Meals are designed to meet the most recent science evidence-based nutrition standards.

This program not only emphasizes access to healthy and appetizing meals, but also nutrition education and counseling to help older adults and their caregivers make informed choices to manage and control their health. Services are successfully targeted to individuals who are lower-income, older, more likely to live alone, be less healthy, more food insecure, more functionally impaired, more likely to be a minority individual, and more likely to live in rural communities.

Good nutrition is extremely important to the ongoing health of older Americans. Healthy meals prevent chronic illness and help older adults maintain their independence and connection to their communities. Looking to the future, the Administration on Aging, State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, and local service providers together will be changing to meet the increasing needs of a larger and more diverse older population; the service system will be more accommodating to choice, be more integrated in health and home and community based service systems and will help keep older adults at home in the community for as long as possible.

Resources

AoA Nutrition Program
Stories of AoA Nutrition Program Participants

Nutrition and Health Resource Information:

• Health Information from the National Institutes of Health
• Health Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Health Information from the Food and Drug Administration

Nutrition Materials for Consumers:

• Health Fact Sheets for Older Adults based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Food Safety for Older Individuals

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced final policies that will ensure that millions of uninsured Americans will have a simple, seamless path to affordable health insurance coverage.

“The Medicaid improvements in the Affordable Care Act will help simplify the system and ensure all Americans have the affordable high-quality coverage they need,” said Secretary Sebelius.

The Affordable Care Act makes Medicaid available to individuals between ages 19 and 64 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level – currently $14,856 for an individual and $30,656 for a family of four. These changes will become effective in 2014 when Affordable Insurance Exchanges begin operation. The federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of the Medicaid expansion for the first three years and at least 90 percent after that.

“Today, too many uninsured Americans turn to the emergency room for care and can’t pay their bills,” said Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). “Insuring more Americans will decrease the hidden tax states and consumers with insurance pay to cover the cost of caring for the uninsured.”

The policies announced today were first proposed in August 2011. After the proposed rule was issued, HHS participated in listening sessions across the country to hear comments and suggestions from a diverse array of stakeholders. In addition, CMS held a national eligibility conference attended by states and other stakeholders and conducted numerous conference calls and webinars to solicit public input. In response, the final rule provides additional protections for consumers, as well as additional flexibilities and options for states.

The final rule announced today also makes it easier for eligible individuals and families to enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by cutting back on red tape and coordinating enrollment with the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Families will be able to enroll in the appropriate coverage program through a single, streamlined, online application and states will have the benefit of reduced administrative costs.

The rule builds on successful state efforts to modernize the eligibility, enrollment, and renewal processes in Medicaid and CHIP. This final rule and the recently issued Affordable Insurance Exchange final rule are building a seamless system of coverage so that, in 2014, Medicaid, CHIP and the Affordable Insurance Exchanges will work together to efficiently meet consumers’ health care needs, improve quality and lower costs.

To learn more about this final rule, visit: http://www.medicaid.gov/AffordableCareAct/Provisions/Eligibility.html.

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan saves lives

 Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announcedthat the new health care law’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program is providing insurance to nearly 50,000 people with high-risk pre-existing conditions nationwide. The Department released a new report demonstrating how PCIP is helping to fill a void in the insurance market for consumers with pre-existing conditions who are denied insurance coverage and are ineligible for Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

 “For too long, Americans with pre-existing conditions were locked out of the health care system and their health suffered,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Thanks to health reform, our most vulnerable Americans across the country have the care they need.”

 Under the Affordable Care Act, in 2014, insurers will be prohibited from denying coverage to any American with a pre-existing condition. Until then, the PCIP program will continue to provide enrollees with affordable insurance coverage.

PCIP is helping individuals like:

 *  Gail O’Brien of Keene, New Hampshire who is now getting help with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma  treatments and is responding very well.

 * James Howard of Katy, Texas who is grateful for the coverage the PCIP program is providing to treat cancer and says that without it, he would not have been able to continue receiving care. 

 In many cases, PCIP participants have been diagnosed with and need treatment for serious health care conditions such as cancer, ischemic heart disease, degenerative bone diseases and hemophilia. As a result of the new law, PCIP enrollees are receiving health services for their conditions on the first day their insurance coverage begins. Their critical need for treatment, combined with their lack of prior health coverage has led to higher overall per-member claims costs in state-based PCIPs of approximately $29,000 per year, which is more than double the per member cost that traditional State High Risk Pools have experienced in recent years.  

 Enrollment in PCIP has seen a nearly 400 percent increase from November 2010 to November 2011. PCIP enrollment is anticipated to trend upwards of 50,000 enrollees within the coming month. 

 People who enroll in the PCIP program are not charged a higher premium because of their medical condition.  Program participants pay comparable premium rates to healthy people in the individual insurance market. By law, premiums may vary only on the basis of age, geographic area and tobacco use.  

 PCIP provides comprehensive health coverage, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, prescription drugs, home health and hospice care, skilled nursing care, preventive health and maternity care. The program is available in 50 states and the District of Columbia and open to U.S. citizens and people who reside in the U.S. legally (regardless of income) who have been without insurance coverage for at least six months, and have a pre-existing condition, or have been denied health insurance coverage because of a health condition.

 The Affordable Care Act directed the Secretary of HHS to carry out PCIP either directly or through a contract with a state or nonprofit entity. In 27 states, a state or nonprofit entity elected to administer PCIP, while HHS operates the program in the remaining 23 states and the District of Columbia.  

 The new report can be found at: http://www.cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/Files2/02242012/pcip-annual-report.pdf 

 For more information, including eligibility, plan benefits and rates, as well as information on how to apply, visit www.pcip.gov and click on “Find Your State.” Then select your state from a map of the United States or from the drop-down menu.

The PCIP call center is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Call toll-free 1-866-717-5826 (TTY 1-866-561-1604).

PCIP Enrollment Fact Sheet: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/02/pcip02232012a.html 

The drive will take place January 23 – 28 between the hours of9 a.m.and6 p.m.  The main collection site is New Covenant Christian Church, 4807 Cove Road., NW, Roanoke.  Other collection sites include:

• All Bank of America Roanoke locations and locations in Daleville and atWestlake.
• Vinton –201 S. Pollard Street, Vinton
• Downtown –302 S. Jefferson Street,Roanoke
• Starkey Road– 3656 Electric Road.,Roanoke
• Brambleton –2820 Brambleton Ave., SW.,Roanoke
• Melrose Ave–2206 Melrose Ave., NW,Roanoke
• Daleville –1571 Roanoke Road, Daleville
• Westlake–12970 Booker T. Washington Hwy, Hardy
• The LOA Central Office,706 Campbell Ave., SW,Roanoke
• MAIN COVINGTON site – Wells Fargo,  246 W. Main Street,  Covington
• Intrepid Home Health,362 W.Main Street,Covington
• GranberryUnitedMethodistChurch,425 W.Main St.,Covington(Will accept soup on January 24 – 25 – 26 –10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.)
• Good News Christian Fellowship,214 S. Lexington Ave,Covington
• MAIN CLIFTON FORGE site – Clifton Forge Fire Department,701 Church Street,CliftonForge
• Scott Hill Retirement Community, 800 W. Ridgeway St.,CliftonForge

This year’s goal is 30,000 cans of soup to be delivered to more than 3,000 local residents.  A hot bowl of soup on a cold day can go a long way in making sure no senior goes hungry.

There are many ways you can help us in our endeavors.  The easiest way is to donate a can or cans of soup and bring it to one of our many collection sites.  All the items collected will be put into reusable cloth bags provided by AARP and distributed into the homes of our elderly neighbors.  If you are a part of a civic group, church group or if you want to collect as a service project with your business, we will welcome any and all donations.  The more we collect, the more we can serve.

We are also in need of volunteers.  Volunteers play a vital role in this project and it cannot be done without their help.  Volunteers are needed in varying capacities.  They include:

• People at New Covenant Christian Church to work in an assembly line format putting the donated soup and crackers into the bags, getting them ready for assembly.
• People to deliver those bags to the Meals on Wheels sites, Diners Club sites, senior independent living centers, etc.  In some cases, we will need volunteers to deliver to the home.
• Volunteers to pick up soup at the drop off locations and bring to our main collection site.
• Volunteers available at the church to assist in unloading the items.

All this cannot be done without the support of a generous community.  We feel so fortunate to provide service in such an area and look forward to continuing Soup for Seniors for many years to come.  More information about the project can be found at www.createthegood.org or by calling Aimee Lawson at the LOA at 540-345-0451 or Patrice Coles at 540-962-0465 in the Alleghany Highlands.  If you would like to make a monetary contribution, you may use the link below or send it to Soup for Seniors, LOA Area Agency on Aging,PO Box 14205,Roanoke,VA 24038.  Funds collected will be used to meet the goal of serving 3,000 seniors or used to further end senior hunger by providing Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors.

Christie Marra, an attorney with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, worked with utility companies, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and others to get the law passed. She describes the guidelines about who qualifies for a reprieve from utility cut-offs with what is known as a “documented serious medical condition.”

“A physical or psychiatric condition that requires medical intervention to prevent further disability, loss of function or death. So, you need to be under a doctor’s care for a condition that is ongoing.”

She says the new law covers a variety of cases, and offers a couple of examples.

“Someone who is required to take medication regularly to control his or her condition and needs that medication to be refrigerated. Someone who has a serious medical condition that is exacerbated by extremely high or extremely low temperatures.”

A “Serious Medical Condition Certification Form” also must be completed by a physician and filed with the customer’s utility company. The company may then give up to a 60-day grace period, although the customer is still not off the hook for the bill, and can make payment arrangements with the utility company. Marra suggests it’s best to get the form filed before any problems arise with payments to ensure a smooth process.

The “Serious Medical Condition Certification Form” is available on the SCC website at <www.scc.virginia.gov>

More information is at <tinyurl.com/893jqfg>

Monique Coppola, Public News Service – VA

<http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23126-1>