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JAN. 7, 1998
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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.