Red Cross encourages donors to give with meaning this holiday season

Help save lives through blood and platelet donation, by hosting a blood drive

PEORIA, Ill. (Nov. 23, 2015) – This holiday season, the American Red Cross urges individuals to give something that means something - a blood or platelet donation. This simple, potentially lifesaving act can give patients in need another holiday season with loved ones.

"During the winter months and especially around the holidays, blood donations tend to decline," said Tracy Fox, spokesperson for the Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region. "Long holiday weekends, like Thanksgiving, pose an extra challenge when many donors are traveling to be with family and friends. The Red Cross encourages people to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets and give a meaningful gift to a patient this holiday season - the gift of life."

Blood donors with all types, especially O negative, B negative and A negative, are urged to give. Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed. To encourage donations around Thanksgiving, those who come to give blood or platelets from Nov. 25-29 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross mixing spoon with recipes from celebrity chefs John Besh, Richard Blais, Rocco DiSpirito, Mike Isabella, Ellie Krieger and Ali Larter, while supplies last.

How to donate blood

To make an appointment, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can use RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or laptop. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass to get started.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood drive hosts needed

This time of year, there are also fewer blood drives on the calendar. Many sponsoring groups postpone blood drives while people are busy with holiday activities, and severe weather may cause scheduled blood drives to be canceled. With fewer opportunities for donors to give, the Red Cross typically experiences a seasonal decline in blood donations.

Because more than 80 percent of blood donations are made at blood drives, organizations are needed to host blood drives this winter to help ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients in need. More information on hosting a blood drive is available at redcrossblood.org.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

576 long term services and support facility contracts, over 4,500 home and community based wavier provider contracts and 99% of pharmacies have signed contracts with a managed care organization

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announce over 12,000 provider contracts have been signed since November 1st with managed care organizations for Iowa's Medicaid Modernization plan.  Iowa's Medicaid Modernization plan will improve quality, access, and health care outcomes and create a more predictable and sustainable Medicaid program that begins January 1, 2016.

"I am encouraged that over 12,000 provider contracts have been signed since November 1st," said Branstad. "576 long term services and support facility contracts have been signed with a managed care organization (MCO) along with over 4,500 home and community based waiver provider contracts and 99% of pharmacies in the current Iowa Medicaid network have signed contracts with a managed care organization. We are proud of our progress and we will keep working to serve Medicaid patients."

"We have taken a common sense approach by working together to serve our most vulnerable Iowans and I look forward to delivering our patient-centered Medicaid plan beginning on January 1, 2016," Lt. Gov. Reynolds said. "Iowa has learned best practices from 30 other states who have taken steps to modernize Medicaid. Iowa's phased-in approach ensures a smooth transition starting on day one for all Medicaid patients. On January 1^st, Iowa's Medicaid patients will have access to 100% of the current Medicaid network demonstrating 100% network adequacy."

For the first two years, Medicaid patients who receive long-term care services and supports (LTSS) can keep those same services even if their provider is out-of-network.  Those services include HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) waiver services, nursing facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF/ID).  Physical, behavioral, and mental health services can be kept for the first six months even if their provider is out-of-network.

The four managed care organizations have signed over 12,000 provider contracts since November 1st and will continue to build a robust provider network for Iowa's Medicaid Modernization program that begins January 1, 2016.

Key Provider Network Highlights:

• 99% (740 out of the 747 in the existing Iowa Medicaid network) of pharmacies have signed contracts with a MCO.
• 576 long term services and support facility (skilled facility, nursing facility, Intermediate Care Facilities for the Intellectually Disabled) provider contracts have been signed with a MCO.
• 2,805 behavioral health provider contracts have been signed with a MCO.
• 4,659 home and community based waiver provider contracts have been signed with a MCO.
• 2,571 MD and DO provider contracts have been signed with a MCO.

Senior living community raises more than $36,000 for research, treatment and awareness

DAVENPORT, IA (November 18, 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place is proud to announce that the outstanding efforts of the residents and associates at the senior living community in addition to its many friends and supporters in the Quad Cities area have placed them as the number one fundraising organization in the State of Iowa for the Alzheimer's Association ... raising an impressive $36,000.

"We are proud of our residents and associates for working so diligently throughout the year to raise money for this important cause and are also very appreciative of the support and donations from our friends and neighbors in the Quad Cities community," said Marc Strohschein, executive director at Senior Star at Elmore Place.  "We hope that, through Senior Star's fundraising efforts and participation in the Walk to End Alzheimer's®, we are able to raise the level of Alzheimer's awareness."

The senior living community is part of the Senior Star family, which nationwide collectively raised more than $556,000 for the Alzheimer's Association through the 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer's®.  The funds donated to the Alzheimer's Association will contribute to the organization's mission-related initiatives of care, support and research for the disease.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today made the following comment on the 2015 National Drug Control Strategy released today by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"The Administration has had some successes in reducing youth alcohol and tobacco use.  But fighting illicit drug use is another story.  The Administration's own policies toward marijuana enforcement are likely interfering with its ability to reach key goals on marijuana abuse and maybe drugged driving incidents. If the Administration truly wants to reach its drug control goals, it needs to reconsider its policies that undermine those goals."

The report is available here.