06 Nov 2015

two pediatric dentists excluded from federal health care programs, Grassley welcomes move

By Grassley Press

Earlier this year, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa asked key government agencies what they're doing to prevent and punish Medicaid dental fraud, including billing for unnecessary and painful treatments for children, in light of inspector general audits and related media reports documenting worrisome practices.  This week, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General notified Grassley that it has excluded two pediatric dentists from federal health programs.  One dentist is in Florida.  The other dentist is in Colorado.  Grassley made the following comment on the exclusions.

"The taxpayers pay for quality health care services.  If doctors and dentists are bilking the taxpayers and mistreating patients, they need to be shut out of Medicare and Medicaid, period. The inspector general is right to use this tool whenever it's appropriate."

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General provided the following details of the two newly excluded dentists:

On September 30, 2015, OIG excluded Howard Sheldon Schneider, DDS, from participation in all Federal health care programs because his license to practice in the State of Florida was revoked, suspended, or otherwise lost for reasons bearing on his professional competence, professional performance, or financial integrity.  OIG conducted an investigation of Dr. Schneider which revealed that the State of Florida Board of Dentistry issued a Final Order for a Disciplinary Voluntary Relinquishment of his dental license after the Florida Department of Health opened an investigation into allegations of Dr. Schneider's abuse of his pediatric dental patients.  Dr. Schneider cannot apply for reinstatement until his dental license is reissued by the State of Florida.

On August 12, 2015, Dr. Robert E. Hackley, Jr., DDS, agreed to be excluded from participation in all Federal health care programs for a period of three years. OIG conducted an investigation of Dr. Hackley for dental care he provided to patients at Small Smiles Dentistry for Children in Colorado Springs, Colorado. OIG's investigation revealed that Dr. Hackley furnished dental services to patients of a quality which failed to meet professionally recognized standards of care, including: performing medically unnecessary dental procedures, failing to treat existing dental conditions, and performing dental procedures that were below professionally recognized standards of care.

Grassley's letters to the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General from June are available here and here.

In 2013, following a year-long investigation, Grassley and then-Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana issued a report and recommendations urging the administration to ban dental clinics from participating in the Medicaid program if the dental clinics circumvent state laws designed to ensure only licensed dentists own dental practices to prevent substandard care.  In 2014, the inspector general moved to disqualify a firm from Medicaid.

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06 Nov 2015

Loebsack Calls on Branstad, CMS to Protect Wellbeing of Iowans on Medicaid

By Joe Hand

560,000 Iowans, or one out of every five residents, rely on Medicaid

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today called on Iowa Governor Branstad and the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to ensure the wellbeing of the approximately 560,000 Iowans if CMS approves the plan to transition to a to Medicaid managed care system. Currently, Governor Branstad is in the process of implementing a move to privatized management of Iowa's Medicaid program, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2016. Since the plan was first announced, Loebsack has expressed concern and has fought to ensure the transition does not negatively affect those on Medicaid, which often serves our state's most vulnerable populations, including low-income families, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities.

"In a previous letter sent May 15, 2015, I expressed concerns about the State of Iowa's proposed transition to Medicaid managed care." Loebsack wrote to CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt. "I [remain] concerned about the very short period of time between the waiver request and the planned implementation date of January 1, 2016. I urge CMS to review the State of Iowa's Medicaid waiver request thoroughly. If this is not realistic, the agency should not approve a waiver request until it is certain that the transition will not disrupt care for medically needy Iowans."

In a separate letter to Governor Branstad, Loebsack wrote: "I have strong concerns about the State of Iowa's proposed transition to Medicaid managed care. I have heard from many patients, advocates, providers and other Iowans who share these concerns about the future of Medicaid patients. We must not allow Iowa's most vulnerable patients to fall through the cracks. I urge you to carefully consider the consequences this move will have on Iowans."

Copies of the letters to CMS and Governor Branstad can be found below.

Loebsack letter to CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt

Loebsack letter to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad 

 

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05 Nov 2015

FRANKLY SPEAKING ABOUT CANCER: LUNG CANCER

By Kelly Hendershot

FREE WORKSHOP ENCOURAGES PROACTIVE APPROACH TO DISEASE MANAGEMENT

DAVENPORT, IA (November 2015) - Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Lung Cancer - a FREE workshop for people affected by lung cancer, explores vital ways to develop a proactive approach to managing the illness. Fundamental information about the most current lung cancer treatments, strategies for symptom/side effect management and tools for survivorship will be discussed.

Shobha R. Chitneni, M.D., from Hematology-Oncology Associates of the Quad Cities will present.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 5:30 p.m.  at Gilda's Club (1234 E River Drive, Davenport). Dinner is included.

In the U.S., there are approximately 350,000 people living with lung cancer at any given time.

Advance registration is preferred as dinner is included. To register, please call 563-326-7504 or emailmelissa@gildasclubqc.org.

Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Lung Cancer is part of a Frankly Speaking About Cancer series, a collection of cancer-related education programs created by Cancer Support Community.  The Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Lung Cancer program is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Boehringer Ingleheim and Lilly Foundation.

About Gilda's Club

Free of charge, Gilda's Club Quad Cities provides support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer.  As a Cancer Support Community affiliate, we are part of the largest employer of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States.  Our global network brings the highest quality cancer support to the millions of people touched by cancer.


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05 Nov 2015

Smiddy Promotes Healthy Living for Diabetes Awareness Month

By Paul Ferrero
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is highlighting diabetes risks and preventative measures during Diabetes Awareness Month, observed in November.
"The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that more than 827,000 adults in Illinois have been diagnosed with diabetes and each year more than 2,700 residents die from the disease," Smiddy said. "Diabetes claims lives through heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and can even cause blindness if left untreated and it's important to know the waning signs and ways to stay healthy.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States are living with diabetes, and 79 million are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  One in three adults could develop some form of diabetes by 2050, if the current lifestyle and nutrition habits continue.
To combat the challenges facing the growing number of people with diabetes, Smiddy sponsored House Bill 1514, which would create a three-year diabetes prevention pilot program in Rock Island County through a partnership with local nonprofits and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).  If the bill becomes law, HFS will chooses a provider and that nonprofit will receive Medicaid reimbursement for their effort to prevent diabetes in the community.
"This pilot program would be responsible for working with community groups and area health departments to assist the community in prevention and best practices for diabetes." Smiddy said. "Getting regular check-ups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a healthy diet, can help save lives, and it is crucial that we understand that the healthy lifestyle choices we make can prevent or control diabetes."
For more information, please contact Smiddy's constituent service office at (309)-848-9098.
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05 Nov 2015

Practical, protective foot health steps for people with diabetes

By Dr. Kevin Kruse

Healthy    feet    are    essential    for    overall    good    health,    no    matter    your    age,    fitness    level, or    physical   challenges.    For    people    with    diabetes,   however,    taking    care    of    their    feet    is    especially    vital.    More    than    60    percent    of    all    non-traumatic    lower-limb    amputations    worldwide    are   related    to    complications    from    the    disease,    according    to    the    American    Diabetes    Association.

A    2012 study    by    the    American    Podiatric    Medical    Association    (APMA)    indicates    Hispanics    with    diabetes    are    particularly    in    danger, because more    than    90    percent    of    those    with    the    disease    or    at    risk    for    it    have    never    seen    a    podiatrist    as    part    of    their    health    care.
"The    leading    cause    of    hospitalization    among    people    with    diabetes?regardless    of    ethnicity?is    foot    ulcers    and    infections,    but    most    of   those    problems    are    largely    preventable,"    says    Mindi    Feilmeier,    DPM,    President    of    the    Iowa    Podiatric    Medical    Society and    an APMA   member.    "It's    important    for    those    with    the    disease    to    'knock    their    socks    off'    and    receive    regular    foot    exams    by    today's    podiatrists."

While    ulcers?open    sores    on    the    foot?are    the    most    common    diabetes-related    foot    problem,    several    others    are    also    serious    and   prevalent,    including    neuropathy,    skin    changes,    calluses,    poor    circulation, and    infection.    The    nerve    damage    that    diabetes    causes    may    mean   a    person    with    an    ulcer    or    injury    may    be    unaware    of    it    until    it    becomes    infected.    Infection    can    lead    to    partial    or    full    amputation   of    the    foot    or    lower    leg.

The    good    news    is,    regular    care    from    a    podiatrist    can    help    reduce    amputation    rates    between    45    and    85    percent,    according    to    APMA.
People    with    diabetes    need    to    inspect    their    feet    daily    and    be    vigilant    for    warning    signs    of    ulcers,    including    irritation,    redness,    cracked   or    dry    skin    (especially    around    the    heels), or    drainage    on    their    socks.

"Although    ulcers    can    occur    anywhere    on    the    foot    or    ankle,    they    are    typically    found    on    pressure    points   on    the    foot,    like    the    ball   of    the    foot    or    bottom    of    the    big    toe,"    adds    Dr.    Feilmeier. "If    you    discover    an    ulcer    or    have    any    symptoms,    see    a    podiatrist   immediately.    In    many    cases,    the foot    can    be    saved    with    early    treatment."

In    addition    to    examining    your    feet    every    day,    and    keeping    your    blood    glucose    in    your    target    range,    make    sure    to    follow    these    foot   health    tips:

· Discuss    your    diabetes    and    the    risks    with    your    family.    Diabetes    can    be    hereditary,    so    talk    to    your family    members    about    monitoring    blood    sugar    and    foot    health.

· Never    go    barefoot.    Always    protect    your    feet    with    the    proper    footwear    and    make    sure    socks    and    shoes    are    comfortable    and    fit    well.

· Trim    toenails    straight    across,    and    never    cut    the    cuticles.    Seek    immediate    treatment    for    ingrown    toenails,    as    they    can    lead    to    serious   infection.

· Keep    your    feet    elevated    while    sitting.

· Wiggle    toes    and    move    your    feet    and    ankles    up    and    down    for    five-minute    sessions    throughout    the    day.

"Successfully    managing    diabetes    is    a    team    effort,    and    today's    podiatrist    is    an    integral player    on    that    team,"    Dr.    Feilmeier    says.
The    Iowa    Podiatric    Medical    Society    (IPMS)    is    the    professional    organization    representing    over    130    medical    and    surgical    specialists    of    the   foot    and    ankle,    located    throughout    the    state    of    Iowa.    Doctors    of    Podiatric    Medicine    (D.P.M.)    are    physicians    and    surgeons    who    provide   comprehensive    services    ranging    from    routine    foot    care to    sophisticated    foot    surgery.    For    more    information    on    IPMS, visit    www.ipms.org.

Additionally,    visit    the    American    Podiatric    Medical    Association's    website    - www.apma.org - to    learn    more    about    foot    health    and    care.

03 Nov 2015

Caregivers are the Unsung Heroes of Alzheimer's Disease

By Donna McCullough

Each November, in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the people who provide compassionate support to those living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's can be overwhelming, so we want to take this opportunity to remind caregivers to take care of themselves. Last year alone, more than 15 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care to family and friends living with Alzheimer's ? a contribution to the nation valued at $217.7 billion. If you know a caregiver in need of support, please forward this email or encourage them to visit alz.org/care.

We know that people with Alzheimer's and dementia rely on caregivers to live their best life possible. When you give to the Alzheimer's Association, you're helping to fund critical research, fuel important advocacy efforts and support caregivers with local and online resources such as:

  • 24/7 Helpline: A free resource for reliable information and support, day or night, at 800.272.3900.
  • ALZConnected®: An online community that enables caregivers to connect with one another.
  • Educational resources: Our educational workshops and online Caregiver Center offer strategies and proactive advice.
  • Community Resource Finder: A comprehensive listing of Alzheimer's and dementia resources and local community programs and services.
  • Alzheimer's Navigator®: A powerful online tool to help caregivers identify their needs and local community programs and services.

To learn more about the resources we provide for caregivers, visit alz.org/care. Please join us this National Family Caregivers Month in honoring the unsung heroes of the Alzheimer's epidemic. Thank you.

P.S. I hope you'll consider making a donation today in honor of a special caregiver in your life. Your gift allows us to accelerate research for a future without Alzheimer's, while providing programs and services to support people living with the disease today. Thank you.

03 Nov 2015

New memoir brings hope to living with rare disease

By Marketing Services

Author chronicles life with fibrosing mediastinitis, how faith has helped her persevere

WAVERLY, Iowa - In 2002, Rebecca Lalk was diagnosed with a rare disease: fibrosing mediastinitis. A rare disease, doctors gave Lalk only 10 years to live. After beating their estimates, Lalk faced some new challenges from the disease and decided to transform her journals into a memoir in case the worst should happen.

"I'll Take My Disease Rare Please: My Journey with Fibrosing Mediastinitis" (published by WestBow Press) is the story of Lalk's fight and how her faith in God has sustained her, even in the darkest of times. The search for answers, never giving up and putting trust in God are the core values around which the memoir revolves.

Written with her children in mind, "I'll Take My Disease Rare Please" is Lalk's journey of hope to pass on to her family and to those who are also struggling with disease.

"I wanted my kids to know how hard I fought and how as long as they have trust in God, everything will be okay, even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment," Lalk says.  "I wanted them to see through my life, how God worked and turned some extremely difficult challenges, into amazing blessings later on in my life. And for them to see how much I would have missed out on...if I would have given up my fight."

"I'll Take My Disease Rare Please"

By Rebecca Lalk

Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 128 pages | ISBN 9781512707403

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5 in | 128 pages | ISBN 9781512707397

E-Book | 128 pages | ISBN 9781512707380

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Rebecca Lalk grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and currently works for Bremer County. Her husband, Tim manages and operates the family cattle business and they have four children. In 2002, Lalk was diagnosed with an extremely rare and life-threatening disease?fibrosing mediastinitis. She currently resides in Waverly, Iowa and shares her daily health challenges and triumphs on her blog at Rebecca1010.com.

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02 Nov 2015

Sen. Tom Harkin on Americans with Disability Act 25 Years on: "Economic Self-Sufficiency, That's the Bone in My Throat. It's Something We Just Haven't Accomplished"

By Rick Martin

Former Iowa Senator and driving force behind the historic Americans with Disability Act addressed the inaugural Ruderman Inclusion Summit on 25th anniversary of ADA. Harkin was honored with the Morton E. Ruderman Award and a $100,000 donation to the Harkin Institute

Boston, MA - "We've come so far as a country since passage of the Americans with Disability Act.  However, the work is far from over. Economic self-sufficiency, that's the bone in my throat. That's the thing that we just haven't really accomplished," former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (Ret., D-Iowa) told over 500 leaders in disability inclusion last night at the inaugural 2015 Ruderman Inclusion Summit.

At the Summit, the Foundation honored Senator Harkin with the Morton E. Ruderman Award for his lifelong dedication to disability inclusion, including his steadfast work on the historic ADA bill. As part of the award, a $100,000 donation will be made to the Harkin Institute of Public Policy at Citizen Engagement at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa to help further tackle the most pressing issues facing those with disabilities.

The historic ADA bill is, to this day, the most sweeping legislation the United States has ever seen for people living with disabilities. Enacted a quarter-century ago, the ADA changed the landscape of America by requiring buildings and transportation to be wheelchair-accessible, and providing workplace accommodations for people with disabilities.

"Before the Americans with Disability Act, I heard stories of individuals who had to crawl on their hands and knees to go up a flight of stairs, who couldn't ride a bus because there wasn't a lift, and individuals couldn't attend a baseball game with their own family due to the lack of accessibility at the ballpark. Millions of Americans were denied access to their own communities - and the American dream.  I saw this firsthand in the life of my older brother Frank, who was deaf. He was the inspiration for my sponsoring the ADA," said Senator Harkin.

"I am very proud to accept the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion because I am committed to making life more equitable for people with disabilities just as Morton was when he created the Ruderman Family Foundation. We must continue the fight for policies that promote equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities and their families."

The inaugural Ruderman Inclusion Summit has seen over 500 activists from the field of disability inclusion, come together to launch a network of disability advocates from around the world, and set the agenda for building towards a more inclusive society.

"The Ruderman Family Foundation is proud to award the 2015 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion to former Senator Tom Harkin. This $100,000 award is presented each year to an individual who has furthered the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society," said Foundation President Jay Ruderman. "Senator Harkin, throughout his career in Congress, has done more than almost any American to further the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in the United States. He is most deserving of this honor and we are proud to associate my father's name with his leadership."

Ruderman Inclusion Summit

The Inclusion Summit, running November 1-2 at Boston Seaport World Trade Center, has brought together disability inclusion leaders from around the world to launch an advocacy network and set the agenda for building a more inclusive society. An action-packed program is promoting strategic advocacy and awareness, peer-to-peer learning, best practices, networking and more, focusing on the critical sectors of education, housing, employment, community, and religious life.

Other key speakers at the summit include John Hockenberry, NPR journalist and four-time Emmy award winner; Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics athlete and passionate advocate for people with intellectual and physical disabilities; Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Ron Suskind; and White House disability liaison Maria Town.

Summit Website: www.Inclusion2015.org
Live Webcast: www.rudermanfoundation.org/webcast
Hashtag: #Inclusion2015

02 Nov 2015

The Project of the Quad Cities Receives Get Covered Illinois Grant

By Kendra Smith
The Project of the Quad Cities (TPQC) is one of 10 organizations in Illinois to receive the Get Covered Illinois Grant to provide In-Person Counseling for Marketplace health insurance.

In-Person Counselors, also known as Navigators, are trained to provide free help to consumers, small businesses, and their employees. In addition to exploring health insurance options Navigators educate consumers about complex insurance terminology and help them to complete eligibility and enrollment forms. These trained, unbiased, professionals have played an important role in the state's enrollment efforts; resulting in more than 972,160 Illinois residents receiving coverage under the ACA or expanded Medicaid.

Open Enrollment begins November 1st, 2015 and ends January 31st, 2016. To have health coverage that is effective on January 1st, individuals must sign up by December 15th, 2015. If you miss the January 31, 2016 deadline you will be unable to purchase health insurance, on the Marketplace, until the next open enrollment period. You may, however, qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have a qualifying life event like losing coverage, having a baby or getting married.

It is important to note that the fee for not having health coverage will increase for 2016 to 2.5% of your yearly household income or $695 per person ($347.50 per child under 18), whichever is greater. The maximum penalty per family is $2,085. Penalties will be applied to 2017 tax returns.

If you currently have a health insurance plan from the Marketplace, we encourage you to come in and meet with an In-Person Counselor or log on to your healthcare.gov account to compare and shop new plans. Each year, new plans are introduced and you may be able to get a health insurance plan that better fits your health and
financial needs.

In-Person Counselors will be at a variety of locations in Rock Island, Mercer, Warren, Knox and McDonough counties. Locations will be announced on our facebookpage, GetCoveredIllinoisRockIslandCounty or can be found at getcovered.illinois.gov. If you have any questions or need help exploring your health insurance options, please call (309)762-5433.

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02 Nov 2015

Grassley Q&A: Rx Rip-Offs

By Grassley Press

Q: What can Congress do to address the high prices for prescription medicines?

A:  There's no doubt that the price of prescription medicines is a big concern for Iowans. This issue comes up repeatedly at my town meetings. It's not only a pocketbook issue that squeezes household budgets. It's a matter of affording life-saving access to medicine to treat cancer, or paying for prescription drugs that help improve the quality of life for family members suffering from chronic diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes and epilepsy, as an example. Thanks to innovation, research and development, modern medicine is performing medical miracles that are keeping patients healthier, stronger and living longer. By most every measure, from research and development to clinical trials and everything else that goes into bringing a drug to market, it requires significant investment and financial capital. Companies that have invested in costly and lengthy research and development to create the next modern miracle drugs should be able to reap the benefits of their investment in innovation. We also want to ensure that consumers have access to more choice and cheaper alternatives as soon as possible. My bipartisan Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act is a good place to start. It would fix an anti-competitive practice in which a brand name drug company pays a generic competitor to keep its products off the market. It's a business arrangement often referred to as "pay-for-delay."

Q: How do pay-for-delay deals work?

A: Consumers are paying artificially higher prices for certain drugs that are on the market. What's happening is brand name drug companies are paying certain generic drug companies to delay bringing their product to market. They are reaching patent settlement agreements that twist logic on its head. This pay-to-delay practice is anti-competitive and unlawful. A 2014 report from the Federal Trade Commission listed 29 potential pay-for-delay settlements that involved 21 brand name pharmaceutical products. The FTC reported the combined U.S. sales for these brand name drugs reached roughly $4.3 billion. When brand name pharmaceutical giants use anti-competitive "pay-for-delay" agreements to keep less expensive generics off the pharmacy store shelves, it prevents competition from putting downward pressure on retail drug prices. Ultimately, these sweetheart deals are keeping more affordable prescription drugs out of consumers' medicine cabinets. Pay-for-delay drives up out-of-pocket costs for sick patients. Such anti-competitive pay-offs are rip-offs to consumers and the taxpaying public.

Q: How would your bill fix this problem?

A: My bill would prevent brand name drug companies from subverting a 1984 federal law that was designed to foster market entry of generic drugs and preserve incentives for innovation in the pharmaceuticals industry. Consumers know that generic drugs generally cost less than brand name drugs. In fact, they can cost up to 90 percent less. And federal tax dollars pay an estimated 38.6 percent of prescription medicine in the United States through Medicare and Medicaid. The taxpaying public's share is expected to rise to 47 percent within the next decade. So when generic makers and brand name drug manufacturers enter financial agreements that provide a benefit to the generic company so long as it agrees to limit, delay or stay out of the market - consumers and taxpayers get the short end of the stick.  As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction of the nation's anti-trust and patent laws, I am keenly tuned in to our nation's historical embrace of patent protections to foster innovation, ownership and prosperity in America, as well as the need to be vigilant about abusive behavior that harms Americans. I am working to uphold and strengthen this legacy to help ensure the marketplace operates fair and square for consumers, innovators, entrepreneurs and taxpayers. Straightening out anti-competitive practices that are turning patent policy on its head is the right thing to do for the public good, from individual patients to the public health and the public purse.

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