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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2005)
Page B2 November 16. 2005 ^Jurtlanb © bseruer H ealth Seniors Confused by Medicare Drug Benefits them divided into three camps: • 37 percent view the program un favorably. • 31 percent have a favorable opin ion. • 31 percent said they just do not know enough about the benefit to have an opinion. "Seniors still are having a hard (AP) — Medicare beneficiaries time. Seniors still aren’t really pre are not e n th u se d ab o u t the pared. and they're going to need a program’s new prescription drug lot of help to make the choices they benefit, which begins enrolling its need to make under the law,” said first participants this week. Dr. Drew Altman, president of the A survey of older people finds Many view program unfavorably Health Gap Narrows Deeper disparities persist when they are the same in nearly every way. H arvard researchers found n a rro w e d r a c ia l g a p s fo r mammograms and diabetics’ eye exam s, blood-sugar tests, and testing and control o f diabet ic s’ cholesterol. G aps were also reduced for prescribing beta- blocker heart drugs and choles terol testing after heart attacks. Progress w asn’t apparent ev eryw here, though. Racial d is parities w idened by three per centage points for both control o f d iab etics’ blood sugar and o f heart p atien ts’ cholesterol. The other tw o studies, led by H arvard and Em ory U niversity in A tlanta, show persistent dis- parities in mostly expensive and elaborate procedures like some blood vessel repairs, heart and back surgeries, and joint replace- ments. The health care gap between blacks and whites is closing on many sim ple, cheap m edical treatm ents, but deeper dispari ties stubbornly persist for more complex and costly procedures, new research suggests. The findings from three large federally funded studies indi cate it’s possible to equalize health care between races, but it w on't happen quickly or eas ily. Since the 1980s, many stud ies have d ocum ented racial gaps in the standard o f health care. They are blam ed on eco nomic, cultural and even bio logical d iffe re n c es b etw een races. Blacks have less access to better doctors, hospitals and health plans, studies indicate, Research also shows that the medical system treats whites and blacks differently, even Kaiser Family Foundation, which undertook the survey with the Harvard School of Public Health. Many beneficiaries already have drug coverage. That factor was listed as the No. 1 reason why people would not be enrolling in a private plan this year. ‘‘When you look at the people who say they don’t plan to enroll, it’s mainly because they already have coverage. They have cover age through a former employer or through a Medicare health plan. and that’s just great." said Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and M edic aid Services. Among those surveyed who said they lacked drug coverage, only 28 percent said they would enroll. Tw enty-three percent said they would not and 49 percent did not know. John Rother, director of policy and strategy at AARP, said he is not surprised that people have yet to warm up to the drug benefit. "This was a program enacted as part of a very high-profile, partisan controversy,” Rother said. “And the other thing is, the benefit is not what people had hoped to see.” Rother said AARP, which has partnered with an insurer to provide a drug plan, believes people should view the drug coverage much like homeowner’s or car insurance. "It’s really peace of mind that you’re buying,” he said. The pro gram has an out-of-pocket cap fea ture that limits the yearly amount a Neurologist Expand Medical Services Stroke, m ultiple sclero sis and L ou G ehrig’s d is ease all are potentially dev astating neurological con ditions that can represent extraordinary challenges to • 1 those affected. In an effort to further enhance its services in the area o f neurosciences for those in need, P o rtlan d 's Providence Health System has added three neurolo gists to its m edical staffs as part o f its Brain Insti Dr. Lisa Yanase tute: Dr. Mark Morrow Dr. Kim Gùslin Dr. M ark M orrow has joined the Providence M ultiple ophthalm ology and neurotology, serves as the m edical director of Sclerosis C enter based at Provi as m ultiple sclerosis patients o f the new ly e sta b lish e d P ro v i dence St. V incent M edical C en ten incur problem s with vision dence ALS Center. She has been ter. He has expertise in neuro- and balance. Dr. Kimberly Goslin a practicing neurologist with The I» \ Preventing colds, flu w Best Damn Bones As the cold and flu season ever, more com m only, the germ s approaches, it is im portant that that cause illnesses are spread people rem em ber to wash their by hands. W hen harm ful bacteria are on hands often. Margaret Bruya, associate dean the hands, which com e into con for academic health services and tact with mouthy, noses and eyes, professor at W ashington State the bacteria can spread to these University said the best safeguard mucous m em branes, allow ing for against the flu is a flu shot, but hand the cold and flu viruses to infect washing can also help prevent be people. Washing hands both before and coming infected. M any people think viruses after handling food is important in such as the cold or influenza are preventing the spread of disease. spread through airborne trans When cooking with raw food, wipe m ission, such as sneezing. How- down all cooking surfaces and in- Q L i n d a s M a i d S e r v ic e in Portland 0 k Residential-Offices ------- True Southern Soul Food Holiday Specials Da Man’s Burger • Michael Jackson Burger • Luther Vandross Brisket Queen Latifah’s Cajun Catfish B.L.T • chittlins • pig feet • sweet potato pie liver • gizzards • greens and other southern delicacies Check out our Daily Lunch Special $3.75 503-288-8431 S wuk M xk <h* C«B»S Soztgwnitfr rac«, , 503-249-0081 10% O ff Coupon Cleanliness is next to Godliness Short Breath May Be Heart Disease ( AP) — O ne sim ple question - Do you have trouble breathing? - m ay re v e a l as m u c h a b o u t som eone’s risk o f dying as the most relied-upon sign, chest pain. Even people without any other cardiac symptoms were up to four ti mes more I ikely to die of heart prob lems in the next few years if they had shortness of breath, a study of nearly 18,(XX) people suggests. Researchers found that patients who reported being short o f breath had a higher rate of death. The Portland Observer-Oregon 's Oldest Multicultural Publication-is a member o f the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, , ^ G Íñ fC Ó ^ tM te é ry New Orleans de\ asuu eu Insured - Bonded q struments used in the food prepa ration process. Always wash hands after using a public restroom, and be sure to use warm water, plenty of soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Wash hands after cleaning up after pets, such as after changing a cat’s litter box or after clean-up while walking the dog. Scrub under fingernails and jewelry, and dry with a clean towel. Use disposable tow elettes or antibacterial gel to keep hands clean when water is not accessible. SUBSCRIBE NOW! B gg W ^ o rtla n b Linda J. Scott Owner Windows, Carpet, General and Extensive Cleaning give m e a call at 3962 NE MLK Blvd & Shaver Oregon Clinic since 2000. Prior to this, she was an a ssista n t p ro fe sso r o f neurology and the direc tor o f general neurology at O regon H ealth S ci ences U niversity. Dr. Lisa Yanase has been appointed the medi cal director of the acute stroke program at Provi dence Portland Medical Center, which recently ob tained national distinction as a primary stroke center from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Most recently, she served as the medical director o f the Cerebrovascular Center at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Avoid Germs with Helpful Hand Washing Hints ü ffftT S Bring in this ad for 10% off particular participant would have to pay for medicines. Congress passed a prescription drug benefit in 2003 as part of the Medicare Modernization Act. Un der the program, beneficiaries can voluntarily enroll in a private plan that pays for a portion of their pre scription drugs. People will pay a monthly pre mium, an annual deductible and a portion of each prescription. Addi tional financial aid will be provided to those with low incomes. New York, NY, andThe West Coast Black Publishers Association, Serving Portland and Vancouver. , □ □ Yes! I’d like a year’s subscription to The Portland Observer: individual - $60 Institutions, organizations - $75 ___ Internaitional - $75 ä 1 I want to keep the presses rolling. Here’s my contribution of $ to The Portland Observer. Please do not send cash iMufcnomjh County Cha» i overcome« oppoeíion | Name Address City___ cw . - i . wi «> «»*•"£CBa|’" State. 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