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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1998)
> . • . I BbC-aiM ■ M d MI UM* *JC-» M A Ir’ Page A3 JAN. 7, 1998 ¿Fije {Jurtlattò (Obscrwr ■HHM M I M am m ogram s : As o f January 1, 1998, M edicare coverage will be expanded to include annual screen ing m am m ogram s for all w omen age 40 and over M edicare will also co v erao n e-tim e initial, or baseline, m am m ogram for w om en age 35- 39. B eneficiaries will pay the usual 20 p e r c e n t c o p a y m e n t fo r m am m ogram s, but M edicare will pay the other 80 percent even if the beneficiary has not yet met their annual deductible. In the past, m edicare covered annual screening m am m ogram s for Advocates Sought: To Serve Long Term Care Residents V o lu n te e rs in te re ste d in in v e s tig a tio n , a d v o c a c y an d the e l d erly are n e e d e d to se rv e as o m b u d sm e n fo r re s id e n ts o f n u rs in g h o m e s, re s id e n tia l c a re fa c ilitie s , a s siste d liv in g fa c ilitie s an d a d u lt fo s te r c a re h o m e s. T h e O ff ic e o f the L o n g T erm C a re O m b u d s m an w ill tra in th e v o lu n te e r s on the a g in g p ro c e s s , c o m m u n ic a tio n s k i l l s , p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g s k ills , in v e s tig a tio n a n d o th e r o m b u d sm an s k ills . T he n ex t tra in in g w ill b eg in on J a n u a ry 22 in P o rtla n d . C e rtifie d O m b u d sm e n id e n tify and in v e s tig a te c o m p la in ts o f the r e s id e n ts an d th e n w o rk w ith the fa c ilitie s to m ake c h a n g e s . “M o re th an h a lf o f lo n g te rm c a re r e s i d e n ts do n o t re c e iv e r e g u la r v is to r s ,” sa y s K athy W a lte r, V o lu n te er R e c ru itm e n t S u p e rv iso r. "B y se rv in g as th e r e s id e n ts ’ v o ic e , o m b u d sm e n e n s u re th a t th e res d en ts re c e iv e g o o d c a re , th a t th e ir rig h ts are p ro te c te d and th a t th e y en jo y a g o o d q u a lity lif e .” T h e re is a stro n g n eed fo r c o m m itte d , ca rin g v o lu n te e rs w illin g to sp eak o u t on b e h a lf o f th e re s id e n ts . F o r in fo rm a tio n a b o u t th e p r o g ram o r to le arn h o w to g e t in v o lv e d c o n ta c t K ath y W a lte r at I-8O O -522-26O 2. e a lth ^Science H w om en age 50-64, and for women age 40-49 at high risk for breast cancer. Screening m am m ogram s tor w om en age 40-49 at norm al risk and w om en age 65 and over w ere co v ered only every 2 years, and one baseline m am m ogram was covered for w om en age 35-39. B eneficiaries paid both 20 percent coinsurance and any unm et portion o f their d e ductible. Pap Smears: As o f January 1 ,1998. M edicare coverage will be expanded for a screening pep sm ear to include both a pelvic exam and clinical breast exam every 3 years for most women. The exam s are covered every year for w om en at high risk for cervical or vaginal cancer, those o f childbearing age who have had an indication of cervical or vaginal cancer; and, those w ho have had an abnorm al pap sm ear during the preceding 3 years M edi care will pay the full claim for the pap smear, and 80 percent o f the claim for the pelvic and clinical e x am s, even if the beneficiary has not yet met their annual deductible. In the Past, screening pep smears were covered every 3 years (or more H H I olten for women at high risk forcers ical cancer). The accompanying pelvicexam and/or clinical breast exam were not covered. Beneficiaries will continue to pay no coinsurance oi the PartBdcduct- ible for any clinical laboratory tests, in cluding pap smears. Colorectal Cancer: As of January I, 1998, Medicare will cover colorectal cancer screening. This coverage includes screening This cov erage includes fecal-occult blood tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy (for people at high risk for colorectal cancer), and in certain cases, barium enemas. Each of these tests are covered under different c irvumstances, sopatients sfx Mild check w ith their physician to determine what is best for them. In the past, these lest were cos ered only when a physician already suspected the patient had cancer or otherdisease, and was using them lor diagnostic, rather than screening, purposes. Colorectal Cancer: As o f January 1. 1998, Medicare willcovercolorecl.il cancer screening. This coverage in cludes fecal-occult blood tests, flex ible sigm oidoscopy, colonoscopy (for people at high risk for colorectal can cer). and in certain cases, barium enem as. Flexible sigm oidoscopy, colonoscopy (for people at high risk for colorectal cancer), and in certain cases, barium enem as Each o f these tests are covered under different cir cum stances. so patients should check w uh then physician lodeterm ine what is best for them. In the past, these tests were co v ered only w hen a physician already suspected the patient had cancer or other disease, and was using them for diagnostic, rath er than screen ing, purposes. How Much ape You ’’People Like Us, Live!” “ P e o p le L ik e U s, L iv e !” w h ich w ill a n s w e r e v e r y th in g y o u e v e r w an te d to k n o w a b o u t life w ith e n d -s ta g e k id n e y d is e a s e . " P e o p le L ik e U s, L iv e ! ” is a six -p a rt w o rk s h o p s e rie s w h ic h w ill a d d re s s iss u e s su c h as th e d if fe r e n t ty p e s o f d ia ly s is tr e a t m e n t a v a ila b le , tr a n s p la n ta tio n , n u tritio n , c o p in g , r e h a b ilita tio n s , s e x u a lity an d fin a n c e s . T h e fre e w o rk s h o p s, to be h eld o v e r th e w e e k e n d o f J a n u a ry 17 th & 18th, 1998 in P o rtla n d , O R w ill be at P o rtla n d S ta te U n iv e rs ity , S m ith C e n te r, a d jo in in g r o o m s 2 9 0 - 2 92. T h e w o rk s h o p s a re s c h e d u le d to ru n fro m 8 :3 0 a m to 2 :3 0 p m e a c h d ay an d o ffe re d by the N a tio n a l K id n ey F o u n d a tio n o f O re g o n a n d S o u th w e s t W a s h in g to n , are o p e n to fa m ily m e m b e rs, as w ell as p a tie n ts , a n d are fre e to all p a r tic ip a n ts . F o r m o re in fo rm a tio n , or to r e g is te r fo r “ P e o p le L ik e U s, L iv e !” c a ll T h e N a tio n a l K id n e y F o u n d a tio n o f O re g o n an d SW W a sh in g to n at (5 0 3 ) 2 8 2 -0 9 9 0 o r to ll-f r e e I 8 8 8 -3 K id n e y (3 5 4 - 3 6 3 9 ). A d v e rtis e In ¿L h e Ask yourself... • Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone? • Do you ever gamble to escape worry? • Have you ever lied to your family or friends to hide the extent of your gambling? • Have you felt remorse after gambling? • Are you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures? > R in v ila u h (O h s e r b e v (a ll 503-288-0(133 Problem gambling is a treatable illness & effective local treatm ent is available. You’re not alone. Gall 1-800-233-8479 If you’re nodding your head, you could have a gambling problem. Sponsored by the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Gambling Addiction Treatment Foundation.
