“Cha-may weeya ”
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Breastfeeding Reduces Risk
of Obesity
Sixty-five percent of adults in the
U.S. are overweight or obese. The
Center for Disease Control has named
four priorities for fighting the obesity
epidemic: reduce TV viewing, increase
physical activity, increase fruit and
vegetables, and - surprise - increase
the rate of breastfeeding.
There has been a huge increase in
the research and evidence supporting
the health benefits of breastfeeding,
linking breastfeeding in infancy to a
reduction of obesity later in life. One
study included tens of thousands of
children from seven countries. Those
children who were breastfed beyond
their first birthday decreased their risk
of obesity by 72 percent.
What is it about breast milk that has
such a preventive impact on weight
years later? There are many reasons:
•
Breastfed babies have higher levels
of the hormone leptin, which helps
regulate appetite. When they’re full,
they can program themselves to
•
•
stop eating, whereas bottle-fed
babies are often overfed because
parents encourage babies to empty
the entire bottle. This overeating
can increase the number of per
manent fat cells.
Formula-fed babies experience
changes in their pancreas that
breastfed babies rarely experience.
This change causes the pancreas to
make too much insulin, which can
lead to adult obesity.
Formula is made with sucrose
(basically white table sugar), which
is much sweeter than lactose, the
sugar found in breast milk. So
formula-fed babies develop an in
creased desire for sweet, fatty foods.
It’s clear that breastfeeding is not
the sole answer to reducing the obesity
epidemic in this country. Genetics, diet,
and exercise also play a major role. Yet
the importance of breastfeeding cannot
be denied in light of the sea of research
supporting its healthy effect on humans.
Health
Clinic
Moms and Babies Breastfeeding Circle
2nd Tuesday of each month
6 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Housing Department
Conference Room
You’re invited to come eat,
visit, and learn about
the many benefits of
breastfeeding.
Sponsored by Siletz Tribal Diabetes Grant
Diabetes Retreat Coming Up
What: Spring 2004 Diabetes Retreat.
Learn how to take control of your
diabetes. Be prepared for two days
of learning, moving, fellowship,
and fun.
Who: Siletz Tribal members with
diabetes and a support person;
others with diabetes who receive
their primary health care at Siletz
Community Health Clinic (and a
support person); interested Siletz
Clinic staff members.
When: March 4-5, 2004
Where: Embarcadero Resort, Newport, Ore.
Why: The more you know about diabetes
and practice good self-care, the less
likely you are to develop the long
term complications that are so often
associated with diabetes.
For more details and registration
information, contact Darcy Trego, RD,
CDE Diabetes Program coordinator,
Siletz Clinic, 1-800-648-0449, ext. 647,
or 541-444-9647; fax 541-444-1278;
e-mail SiletzDM@ctsi.nsn.us.
Medicare Part B Update
by Judy Muschamp
Once again, the Siletz Tribal
Council has set aside gaming revenue
funds to reimburse tribal elders, age 65
and older, or qualifying disabled
persons, for Medicare Part B premiums.
It’s time for anyone who isn’t
already covered by Medicare Part B to
enroll. You can enroll from Jan. 1 through
March 31 for coverage effective July 1.
This is an excellent program for
anyone who qualifies and if you live in
the 11-county service area, helps the
Contract Health Service program by
shifting the majority of the cost of
physician services to Medicare. Here
are answers to some common questions.
Question: What paperwork do you
need so I can receive reimbursement?
Answer: I need a copy of your
Medicare card. This shows that you’re
covered by Part B medical. 1 also need
a copy of your benefit statement from
Social Security that shows how much
per month is withheld from your check.
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Siletz News
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Mail these copies to Judy Muschamp,
CTSI, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380.
Question: The Social Security
office said I would be penalized if I sign
up for Part B now. Will the tribe
reimburse me for the penalty too?
Answer: Yes.
Question: I want to add Part B to
my Medicare. When can 1 do that?
Answer: You can sign up for
Medicare Part B:
1) When you first enroll in Medicare
(your initial enrollment period).
The initial enrollment period starts
three months before you turn 65
and for seven months after.
2) Jan. 1 - March 31 of each year
(your general enrollment period).
If you enroll in Part B during a
general enrollment period, it’ll be
effective July 1 of the year in which
you apply. Your Medicare Part B
premium will go up 10 percent for
February 2004
each 12-month period that you
could have had Medicare Part B,
but didn’t take it.
3) If you didn’t take Medicare Part B
when you were first eligible because
you or your spouse were working
and had group health plan coverage
through your or your spouse’s
employer or union, you can sign up
for Medicare Part B during a special
enrollment period. You can sign up
anytime you’re still covered by the
employer or union group health
plan through your or your spouse’s
current or active employment, or
during eight months following the
month the employer or union group
health plan coverage ends, or when
the employment ends (whichever
is first).
Contact the Social Security
Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to
add Medicare Part B.
Question: When will I receive my
reimbursement from the tribe?
Answer: After your initial check is
processed, you should receive your
regular monthly check the first week of
the month.
Question: Is the reimbursement
taxable?
Answer: Yes, in some cases the
reimbursement is considered taxable
income. You will receive a form 1099
from the tribe.
Question: My premium increased
in January 2004. Will the tribe
reimburse the increase?
Answer: Yes. Mail me the benefit
statement you received from Social
Security indicating how much your
premium increased. Non-penalized
premiums in 2004 increased to $66.60
per month. We need your documents.
If you have any other questions,
please call either Amie Williams or me
at 1-800-648-0449 or 541-444-1030.