PA Medicare Beneficiaries Settle Claims against Commonwealth to Pay Medicare Premiums

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia released a joint press release on the status of claims against the Commonwealth to pay Medicare Premiums.

Pennsylvania Medicare Beneficiaries Settle Claims against Commonwealth to Pay Medicare Premiums

PHILADELPHIA – Lawyers in Philadelphia announced today the settlement of a lawsuit that will lower the cost of Medicare insurance and increase access to Medicare services and benefits for low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities in Pennsylvania.

Free Speech and the Power of Choice

This morning, the Washington Post reported on the status of a law suit initiated in California in an effort to ban the sale and rental of violent video games to children.  Specifically:

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Sacramento said the law violated minors’ constitutional rights under the First and Fourteenth amendments.

California’s law would have prohibited the sale or rental of violent games to anyone under 18. It also would have created strict labeling requirements for video game manufacturers. Retailers who violated the act would have been fined up to $1,000 for each violation.

The Supreme Court will decide whether California can ban the sale or rental of violent video games to children. The court on Monday agreed to review a federal court’s decision to throw out California’s ban on the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Sacramento said the law violated minors’ rights under the First and Fourteenth amendments.” [The Washington Post]

As a parent, I can understand why this lawsuit was filed.  Some video games are extremely violent, as well as sexual in nature.  In addition, there is

Once Again, No Minority Nominee to CT’s Superior Court

The following is an open letter to Governor Rell and Connecticut’s legislative leadership to appoint Judges to the Bench that reflect Connecticut’s diverse citizenry.

I am concerned that the latest round of judicial appointments to Connecticut’s Superior Court made by Governor Rell and legislative leaders do not include a single minority nominee. The 2000 census clearly shows that 18.5 percent of our state’s population are of African American and Hispanic heritage. This does not include other ethnic minority groups such as First Americans, the growing Brazilian community, Asian and Pacific Islanders, to name a few.

Separating Fact from Fiction — FamiliesUSA’s Recent Reports on Health Care

MyDoodle 25.4.10

Wondering what impact the new health laws will have in the first year — even the first 90 days — of its passage?  Got questions as to what the real deal is?  If you are in my neck of the woods, today is a perfect day to get a cup of your favorite hot beverage (venti cafe mocha with soy and agave sweetner, no whip) and nestle into your favorite chair while you watch the sun tease the rain drops; listen to a morning bird song and read about what’s really

You’re Under Arrest for Driving While Black or Brown or Tan or Maybe Somewhere in between?

If you are my age, you grew up during the great wild, wild western movie era.  Picture John Wayne standing in front of a local saloon, getting ready for the bad guys to ride into town.  ”Shoot first and ask questions later.” Those words might have been heard as he poised himself for the inevitable gun battle. And then there was Clint Eastwood, who never flinched but quietly snarled back that famous line, “Make my day.” And now we have Arizona Governor Brewer joining the ranks of those on the big silver screen,

Center for Medicare Advocacy Releases 2nd Report on New Health Laws

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. released its second alert on the new health care laws, “Health Care Reform and Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries.” The Center’s detailed reports provide us with clear and concise information on what, how and when these new laws impact recipients of Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.  At a time when all we hear is noise, these reports are a welcome provider of facts and truth.  Here’s a sample of what is in this report:

PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART D FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS

PPACA § 3302.  Improvement in Determination of Medicare Part D Low-Income Benchmark Premium. This provision requires that the benchmark Part D premium – the amount paid by Medicare on behalf of individuals receiving the low-income subsidy –  be calculated without regard to reductions for rebates or bonus payments received by Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans (MA-PDs) .  The provision addresses the circumstance where MA plans use their extra Medicare payments to reduce their Part D premium for enrollees, which then artifically lowers the overall average (benchmark) amount of all Part D plans.  This in turn results in fewer benchmark plans among free-standing Part D plans and more low-income beneficiaries having to be reassigned each year.  The new process for determining the benchmark should reduce the number of reassignments.  The provision will be effective beginning in plan year 2011.

Click here for full article.

New Health Laws Impact on Medicare and Medicare Advantage

Instead of listening to nonsensical rhetoric called “Obamacare,” and death panels for our seasoned population, etc., learn the facts.  The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., is reviewing and preparing regular, detailed alerts on what the new laws, Pub.L.111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), and Pub. L. 111-152, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA), really provide.  Visit the Center’s site and sign up for alerts.  Be informed with facts and truth.  In their first alert about these two laws, they cover:

PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

HCERA § 1102. Medicare Advantage Payments. This provision phases in changes to the MA plan payment structure, starting with a freeze in payments to MA plans for 2011.  Payments will be based on national county benchmarks, with plans being paid a fixed percentage of traditional Medicare costs.  As a result of the payment scheme, plans in some lower-paid counties, generally rural and suburban areas, will continue to receive payments that exceed the traditional Medicare amount, while plans in higher paid counties, many of them large cities, may see substantial reductions.[1] The new payment structure also provides for an increase in payments by up to 5% for plans that receive four or more stars on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star rating system.  Rebates (an amount plans receive if they bid less than the county benchmark) will also be reduced.

Click here for the full article.

MidTerm Elections News: Gerry Garcia for State Sec.

As citizens of this great state, it is up to us to be informed voters.  Know your candidates.  Ask questions.  Then vote for the person you determine will address YOUR needs. Below is a message from:

Gerry Garcia, CT Secretary of State (D)

Dear Fellow Democrats,

In the coming days many of you will decide whom to support at our Democratic State Convention. I’m very proud that my campaign for Secretary of the State is winning support from a broad coalition of people who share my vision, and I hope you will consider my candidacy for Secretary of the State.

MidTerm Elections News: Jim Himes Opens Campaign HQ May 3rd

As citizens of this great state, it is up to us to be informed voters.  Know your candidates.  Ask questions.  Then vote for the person you determined will address YOUR needs. Below is a message from:

Jim Himes, US Representative (D-4), Incumbent:

Dear Friend,

As we celebrate Earth Day, I have a big announcement – our campaign headquarters will open in a week and a half!  As the weather gets warmer, the political season is heating up too.  We won in 2008 because thousands of people came together and put in the work stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and talking to their friends and neighbors.  In order to keep me serving you in Congress, I’ll need your help once more.

Call to Action to Oppose Arizona Immigration Bill!

Special message from Shanay Watson-Whittaker, president of Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus

Dear Fellow Democrats: We know about DWB or Driving While Black, now there is WWB or Walking While Brown! In Arizona, if you have not heard, the state legislature just passed a bill giving police permission to stop someone they suspect of being here illegally. Arizona Senate Bill 1070, the Orwellian named “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” gives the police the power to interrogate and then arrest a person not walking around with the “proper paperwork” proving his or her citizenship.

Governor Jan Brewer has five days to sign this horrendous McCarthy-like bill into law.  Here is what you can do:

Sign America’s Voice petition here http://americasvoiceonline.org/page/content/veto

When is it Time to Give Up?

One of my favorite Kenny Rogers’ songs is The Gambler.  The chorus echos true, “You got to know when to hold them … know when to fold them … know when to walk away … know when to run …”  The other day, I met a friend for coffee and as we sipped our brew, we mused over the long years of organizing, focusing on education.  I fought for reform when I was student, when my children were students and now when my grandchildren are students. There was great emphasis in our conversation on “how long” I have been pushing for education reform.  The emphasis was not flattering; almost an “in your face” kind of remark that kept cropping up in our conversation.  Kenny Rogers’ song kept milling around the rear corners of my mind.

The Race for CT Attorney General

In addition to the critically important race for Governor, Connecticut voters will also be voting for Lt. Governor, Secretary of the State, Comptroller (Nancy Wyman), Treasurer (Denise Nappier) and Attorney General.

All are important positions if we are truly committed to getting Connecticut back on track.Take a moment to check out the candidates, sign up for their Facebook pages, get involved…

Help ensure the Democratic Party chooses the best candidate in 2010.  Together we can force the change we need and deserve.

Cam Staples | http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/camstaples?ref=ts

George Jepson | http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/George-Jepsen-2010/109593229071558?ref=ts

Susan Bysiewicz | http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/susanbysiewicz?ref=ts

Defining Community … hmmmm

I recently was sent a questionnaire to fill out regarding a peace pedagogy conference coming up and the first question asked me to define my concept of what is a community.  The question intrigued me greatly.  In fact, I was glad for it.  The concept of community is something that I grapple with on a regular basis, and one that I always seek out.

As technology increases, however, I am increasingly left with a sense of distance, a singular “one” feeling.  The window into the Internet seems to be boundless yet, even in a chat room, one is still “one.”  It is just me, my keyboard and lines moving on a screen.

So … What defines a community?  People who live together with a commonality, i.e., race/ethnicity, a shared socioeconomic status, shared geography?  No doubt, we live in a dual community; one physical and one virtual.  Some of us live in one more than the other.  I’m both a landlubber and a technocrat.  

What has Pres. Obama Accomplished since he was Elected?

Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.. coordinator of American Studies at Lynn University, noted that he is often asked to grade President Obama’s Presidency. Instead of offering a grade, Dr. Watson put together a list of President Obama’s accomplishments thus far. The list sets the record straight on all the naysayers and tea-bag wearers.

1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
10. Limits on lobbyist’s access to the White House