Malden Senior News and Views

THE ADULT FAMILY CARE PROGRAM

2010-07-10T11:02:00.003-04:00

CARING FOR A SICK OR DISABLED RELATIVE ON FRIEND?
The Adult Fan=mily Care Porgram pays family members and friends to provide are at home.
Receive up to $18,000 per year to provide care that prevents or delays Instituional care.
Sick or disabled individual must be 18 years or older and eliglbe for MaasHealth
CARING CHOICES
www.eldercare.org

CALL THE AGING INFORMATION CENTER AND ASK ABOUT ADULT FAMILY CARE
617-628-2601 EXT 3151

Health care

2010-04-19T15:35:00.000-04:00

SECOND CAREERS 55+
A rare sector that added jobs during the recession, health care dominates the list of hot second careers. Demand remains strong for traditional positions, such as home health aides, nurses and medical assistants. But a changing health care landscape and an aging population are also creating new jobs in support, education and advocacy to patients. Experts say there is already a need for chronic illness coaches, community health workers, patient navigators and home modification specialists

Massachusetts Department of Revenue Blog

2010-03-15T13:32:00.000-04:00

Welcome to DOR’s New Blog
http://revenue.blog.state.ma.us/blog
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s new blog is now available at the
link above. We hope to use this blog to carry on conversations with Massachusetts
residents on matters related to taxes and revenues. The blog will
also provide a forum to discuss city and town finances in accordance with the
work done by the Division of Local Services. Please keep in mind that this blog
is not the place for the airing of individual tax matters or for formal comments
on DOR rules and regulations. Questions about individual tax matters should
continue to be directed to DOR Customer Service, either by using the “Contact
Us” information on the website or by calling Customer Service at 800-392-6089
or 617-887-6367.
The blog will however be used to link to or describe issues in taxation at the
local, state and federal level. The dramatic declines in revenue have precipitated
a robust discussion in Massachusetts about budget cuts, reductions in
services and the creation of new revenues to partially fill the hole left in the
budgets of cities and towns that rely on the state for local aid payments. This
type of discussion is taking place in virtually every state in the nation thanks to
the ongoing national economic downturn. We hope to continue the discussion
online with the Local Services component of DOR’s blog.

Health Care Reform

2010-03-06T10:42:00.001-05:00

The pending health reform legislation will help keep insurance premiums affordable for America’s families.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that, under the Senate bill, premiums will fall by as much as 3 percent in the large group market and 2 percent in the small group market.5 Most significantly, premium costs will be subsidized on a sliding-scale basis for middle-class families if their incomes are below 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($88,200 in annual income for a family of four in 2010). The legislation also requires insurers to spend a reasonable share of premiums on actually delivering care (instead of on administration and profits), and it enables the Secretary of Health and Human Services to intervene to prevent unreasonable premium hikes.
Failure to act on meaningful reform means out-of-pocket health care costs will keep rising, and medical costs will continue to be a major cause of debt and bankruptcies, even for those with health insurance.
While premiums are rising, families are receiving less coverage for their premium dollars. Policies have higher deductibles and copayments, and they cover fewer services.6 If health reform is not adopted, this trend will continue. Medical costs will be an increasing burden for the insured and uninsured alike.

2010-02-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

Census 2010
In Malden we have a large population of Chinese and Vietnamese to the
Malden Senior Community Center and many Foreign churches (groups) The
Immigration Learning Center in Malden that should become involved.
The Great Wall Inc should be involved.I am interested in seeing Mass
Senior Action involved in the public housing unitsCensus 2010: Key Dates
Ideas for Partners . Volunteers help paint a census
mural in neighborhood of Malden.
U.S. Census Bureau Boston Regional
Census Center
One Beacon Street, 7th Floor Boston,
MA 02108
Phone: (617) 223-3610 E-mail: Boston.
PDSP@census.gov
Overcoming Language Barriers with Questionnaire
Assistance Centers/Language Program Do you serve populations that speak
a language other than English? Are you willing to donate space for at least
15 hours a week that can be used by census employees to provide language
assistance for people completing 2010 Census forms? If so, we want to hear
from you. The Census Bureau is currently identifying facilities that can be used
as Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC).
We need 2,460 sites in the Boston Region alone. Questionnaire Assistance Centers
simply require a small private place in a public facility where the Census Bureau
can staff a table with translators to provide in-language assistance to help non-English speakers complete the 2010 questionnaire. Questionnaire Assistance Center will be open between mid-March and mid-April 2010.
If you would like to serve as a QAC,
please contact your partnership specialist
by December 21.In addition to in-language assistance at QACs,
the Census Bureau will also reach foreign-born
communities with questionnaire assistance guides in 59 languages available for download at www.2010census. gov. The partnership team for the Boston Region consists of over 200 people, including partnership specialists and assistants who collectively speak 18 languages.Nov - Dec 2009 Targeted recruitment for local
2010 Census operations jobs begins.Feb - Mar 2010 Census questionnaires are
mailed or delivered to households. April 2010 April - July 2010 Resdents
fill out and return Census questionnaires. Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
December 2010 March 2011
By law,
Census Bureau delivers population counts
to President for apportionment. By law,
Census Bureau completes delivery of
redistricting data to states.

First and Second time Home Buyers

2009-11-24T15:23:00.003-05:00

Four Malden banks have committed $8 million to a loan pool for first and second time homebuyer program run by the Malden Redevelopment Authority.
Eastern Bank,Century Bank and bank Malden each pledged $2 million to fund the program for the next two years.
Malden with a population of about 57,000 has a homeownership of 43% compared with the State average of 62% according to census data.
The loan pool will make below market rate loans to low and moderate home buters in Malden.
In Malden the medium price of a single family home was #340,000 for the first 11 months of last year,accoring to the most recent sales data from the Warren Group a Boston Firm that tracts the real estate industry.

Income limits are capped at $99,000 for a household plus $1500 for each dependant.
Buyers must make a 5% down payment
Loans are capped at $417,000 for a single family home, 4533,850 for a two family and $645,300 for a three family according to the redeveloment authority.
Application are available the the authority office at City Hall
The number is 781 324 5720

HELP UTILITY BILLS

2008-09-19T17:14:00.000-04:00

CHECKLIST OF KEY PROTECTIONS FOR UTILITY CONSUMERS

1. SERIOUS ILLNESS: ALWAYS ask your client if there is ANY person in the household (adult or child) who has a serious illness. Utilities cannot shut off (and must restore) utility service if anyone in the house has a serious illness. An illness can be physical (pneumonia, etc.) or mental (depression, bipolar, ADHD), short-term (e.g., flu) or long-term (cancer). The utility company does NOT get to decide what is a serious illness. All you need is a letter from a doctor. A phone call from the doctor to the company is initially ok, if later followed by a letter. We should expect and demand that utility service be restored the same day (at worst, the next day) whenever we document a serious illness, by phone, fax or letter from a doctor. You will also need to document that the client has a “financial hardship” in paying bills. The regulations are 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below). Any client who receives LIHEAP (fuel assistance) is automatically presumed to have a financial hardship.

3. CHILD UNDER 12 MONTHS: ALWAYS ask if there is a child under the age of 12 months in the household. A utility company cannot terminate service if there is a young child in the home, and must restore service that has been terminated if the child was in the home at or prior to the time of termination. The child’s age can be documented by birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or any other reasonable means. “Financial hardship” must also be shown. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

4. WINTER MORATORIUM: Utilities cannot terminate service that is heat-related (meaning: natural gas service, if used to heat the home; or electricity, if the tenant pays for heat because electricity is needed for furnace/boiler controls) between Nov. 15 and Mar. 15, if the household has a “financial hardship.” These dates are often extended to April 15 or April 30. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

5. ELDERLY CLIENTS: If every person in the household is age 65 or over, the company needs the explicit approval of the DPU to terminate service, which is almost never granted. ALWAYS notify the company if everyone in the household is age 65 or over. If service has been terminated, it should be restored. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

6. DISCOUNT RATES: ALWAYS determine if your client is on the low-income discount rate. However, many clients will not know. When in doubt, call the company to see if your client is on the rate. It’s very easy for the company to check. Many advocates have been able to get their clients on the rate retroactively to the date that the client became income eligible. This can be extremely helpful if the client has been terminated and owes a large amount because a retroactive adjustment will reduce or eliminate the arrearage. However, get advice from NCLC if you are trying to do this. Discount rates are mandated by law, and all companies have them. Clients on LIHEAP and with income at or below 200% of poverty are eligible for the discount and will usually get the discount automatically via the fuel assistance agency notifying the utility (but worth checking). Clients on TAFDC, Food Stamps, Mass Health, WIC, and other income-tested programs with income at or below 200% of poverty are also eligible, but may have to apply to the utility directly; some of these are being automatically enrolled as of 2005. Some of the companies post their discount rate applications on the web).

7. PAYMENT PLANS: ALL clients are entitled to PAYMENT PLANS. This allows a client who is behind on her bills to spread the payments over several months. If the client has NOT yet been terminated, the company MUST offer a payment plan of AT LEAST four months. Some payment plans go 12 months or longer. If the client has been terminated, the rules are not as favorable, and are strictest during the fall (because the winter moratorium is about to begin and companies are most aggressive in trying to shut off service). ALWAYS insist on a payment plan that your client can afford. 220 CMR 25.01(2), 25.02(6).

8. GO TO http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/dte/cmr/220cmr2500.pdf AND BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. (If you don't know how to bookmark, ask someone in your office). This page includes the most relevant state regulations governing the billing and termination practices of utility companies. In this Checklist, the regulations are referred to as “220 CMR, (section #)” because these regulations are found in Title 220 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations.

9. If you have trouble getting a utility to comply with any of the protections or programs described above, call the DPU’s Consumer Division at 800 392-6066. The front-line phone representative should intervene on your client’s behalf. If not, ask to speak to his or her supervisor. Ultimately, you can speak to Karen Robinson, Director of the Consumer Division. If you need to take the complaint this far, contact Charlie Harak (see below).

Charles Harak, Esq.
National Consumer Law Center
77 Summer Street, 10th flr.
Boston, MA 02110-1006
617 542-8010 (voice)
617 542-8028 (fax)
charak@nclc.org

Malden Government notes

2008-07-12T20:57:00.000-04:00

GOVERNMENT

Municipal Offices
Main Number: (781) 397-7116
Telephone Numbers for Public Information

Form of Government
Mayor-Council
Year Incorporated
As a town: 1649
As a city: 1882
Registered Voters (Secretary of State 1994)

Number %
Total Registered 25,319

Democrats 12,853 50.8 %
Republicans 1,793 7.1 %
Other parties 2 0.0 %
Unenrolled Voters 10,671 42.1 %
Legislators
Senators and Representatives by City and Town

Malden Square Transportation Problems

2008-07-07T14:25:00.002-04:00

Friday, May 2, 2008
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS
We are concerned about getting to the downtown area and to have accessed th the New Senior Center.
It appreciated that since calling the senior concerns to the attention of Human Services Director Christine DiPietro the problem of getting to the New Community Senior Center with the moving of the buses from Pleasant Street and elimination of the stop on Washington Street will be addressed before the opening planned for December 2008
We still find that it is still an issue with not only the Seniors and disabled but for all the "shoppers" and "dining out" people the get "downtown" conveniently with a bus service that turns out to be an "express Service" around the downtown area circling right to the Malden Orange Line Rapid Transit Service to travel to areas outside Malden Center.
Since this issue affects all of the citizens of 8 wards of the City I think that ALL
of the Ward City Councilors to look into methods to improving access of the downtown area (with the backing of our at large councilors)
Concerns: Safety in crossing the dangerous intersections, shuttle service to the downtown area, local taxi service ,
We now have a service provided to the Seniors for Medical Transportation that is working well and because it is so in demand it is stressed to the "breaking point"
There is a limited service for Grocery shopping.
In checking out options that are available for seniors and disabled in the local area
mostly the City of Somerville, Cambridge and Medford (limited availability Malden residents) I talked to a representative of SCM about the services they provide and find that they are expanding services to meet the demands for better access to "giving the community a left" They have a service called "Paul Ride"
"They will take you somewhere instead and not limited to Drs Appointment.
617 625 1191

Since MSAC and the writer are supporters on this service we receive their news letter
and I would like to take THE points from the SCM Executive director Reed Cochran
It is another part of the puzzles facing Seniors.
"It should be easier to give up driving"
Many stories appear every day about elderly drivers in tragic driving accidents
Our State calls for mandatory driver testing for the elderly.
Unfortunately this response alone would not fully solve the problem
The real question at hand is: How do we provide reasonable transportation options to
those who can neither drive, nor easily navigate public transportation, nor afford
a taxi (IF ONE IS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL SERVICE)
Now not only around the country but right here in Malden citizens who fall into this category are dependent on the generosity of family friends, neighbors as well as under-funded Council on Aging in order to get out and about.
(We have some non profits who should and promise to provide service but come up short with a program no "warm bodies" volunteers)
Im Malden the Vans are always fully booked up getting Seniors to medical appointments.
We all have tragically few transportation options if we wish to age with dignity in our homes and also maintain an enjoyable lifestyle.Visits to friends, theaters, library's, shopping malls OR THE POLLS Should not be coveted luxuries.
Inconvenient bus stops to our Malden Downtown area for a difficult treacherous walk especially on stormy days.
Transportation for all of us as we age is not just a convenience. It is a critical link back to our communities and vital to our ability to control our own lives.
Rather than spending money making it difficult for seniors to drive, why not spend it making it easier for them to give up driving?
Councils on Aging, community transportation agencies, and even for profit companies should be working to create inexpensive options that span 24 hours and all kinds of destinations.
Policy makers might spend their dollars funding organizations-across sectors- that can solve the larger problem.
AS LONG AS NOT DRIVING MEANS BEING STRANDED, WE ARE SURE SENIORS ALL ARE GOING TO TRY TO STAY BEHIND THE WHEEL
Posted by marine41 at
1.

State Subsidizing Housing in Malden Ma

2008-06-14T14:36:00.002-04:00

Malden receives #20,000 planing grant for Housing Authority.
Housing and Community Development
DHCD
Masachusets Housing Partnership
MHP
approved a planning grant this week
$20,000 to suport the Malden Housing Authority
(used to evaluate al available options for redeveloping the Linden family housing site
SEE DAVE FINN
Improving and recreate the State Housing Linden Site
----
Salem Towers in the planing stage of being sold a new management company to renovate
completely (Mayor Howard)

City Retiries Into Medicare

2008-06-11T12:47:00.001-04:00

THIS IS A PROPOSAL BEFORE THE MALDEN CITY COUNCIL SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR AT LARGE MICHEAL SHEEHAN. TIME FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE TAXPAYERS TO TAKE A LOOK
What do your think?

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
1. TITLE IV. CIVIL SERVICE, RETIREMENTS AND PENSIONS
CHAPTER 32B. CONTRIBUTORY GROUP GENERAL OR BLANKET INSURANCE FOR PERSONS IN THE SERVICE OF COUNTIES, CITIES, TOWNS AND DISTRICTS, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS
Chapter 32B: Section 18. Medicare extension plans; mandatory transfer of retirees
Section 18. In a governmental unit which has accepted the provisions of section ten and which accepts the provisions of this section, all retirees, their spouses and dependents insured or eligible to be insured under this chapter, if enrolled in medicare part A at no cost to the retiree, spouse or dependents or eligible for coverage thereunder at no cost to the retiree, spouse or dependents, shall be required to transfer to a medicare extension plan offered by the governmental unit under section eleven C or section sixteen; provided, that benefits under said plan and medicare part A and part B together shall be of comparable actuarial value to those under the retiree’s existing coverage. Each retiree shall provide the governmental unit, in such form as the governmental unit shall prescribe, such information as is necessary to transfer to a medicare extension plan. If a retiree does not submit the information required, he shall no longer be eligible for his existing health coverage. The governmental unit may from time to time request from any retiree, a retiree’s spouse and dependents, proof certified by the federal government of their eligibility or ineligibility for medicare part A and part B coverage. The governmental unit shall pay any medicare part B premium penalty assessed by the federal government on said retirees, spouses and dependents as a result of enrollment in medicare part B at the time of transfer into the medicare health benefits supplement plan.
This section shall take effect in a county, except Worcester county, city, town or district upon its acceptance in the following manner:— In a county by vote of the county commissioners; in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter by a majority vote of its city council; in any other city by vote of its city council, approved by the mayor; in a district, except as hereinafter provided, by vote of the registered voters of the district at a district meeting; in a regional school district by vote of the regional district school committee; and in a town either by vote of the town at a town meeting or, by a majority of affirmative votes cast in answer to the following question which shall be printed upon the official ballot to be used at an election of said town:— “Shall the town require that all retirees, their spouses and dependents who are enrolled in Medicare Part A at no cost to a retiree, their spouse or dependents, or eligible for coverage thereunder at no cost to a retiree, their spouse or dependents, be required to enroll in a medicare health benefits supplement plan offered by the town?”.

VETERANS COURT

2008-05-24T12:02:00.000-04:00

I Know that everyone has a slogan and everyone agrees that" we owe a lot to our veterans" is a great slogan.
We have a chance to consider an innovative program to help a segment of the population that remain neglected and improve the
"way of life" and the mission to provide services to some of our most vulnerable citizens HERE IN MALDEN
We have many non-profit organizations and grant programs that could be brought in to sponsor this program
We must have people in Malden who are in touch with those in our court system that could help with setting up a Malden and area towns
Any interest and suggestions?

Buffalo Veteran's Court, Only One In U.S.

Posted by: Josh Boose, Reporter
Created: 5/22/2008 8:34:14 PM, Updated: 5/23/2008 11:51:53 AM
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=58115

There's a new program in Buffalo aimed at helping local veterans.

It's called Veteran's Court. It's a program designed by the Buffalo City Court to keep non-violent offenders, who are veterans, out of jail.

2 On Your Side's Josh Boose asked Judge Robert Russell, "Did you see veterans locally here, falling through the cracks in a sense?"

"We seemed to notice, here locally, we may have been working with veterans in a drug treatment court, we worked with a number of veterans in a mental health treatment track; however, when one veteran was working with one veteran, peer to peer, it appeared to increase our probability of success with that population," said Russell.

After a year of planning, Veteran's Court kicked-off in January.

Here's what happens: If a veteran is arrested for a non-violent offense, they can ask to enter Veteran's Court where they can get proper treatment, mentors who can help them and assistance with any military benefits from the Veteran's Hospital.

"It's a group that many may not have the same degree or understanding or appreciation for," said Russell.

There are some strict rules, if you're in the program you must remain sober, lead a law abiding life and find a stable job or schooling.

Judge Russell says there are no additional costs. The court expenses already exist and there are some volunteers.

"So there's no out of pocket expenses for the city or something like that," Boose asked Russell.

"No," the judge replied.

So far, Buffalo is the only city in the country to focus in on the needs of veterans like this.

Russell and Buffalo City Court Projects Director Hank Pirowski say it's something other cities are taking note of.

"Where do you see this a year from now," Boose asked Pirowski.

"One hundred vets without a problem in the next twelve to eighteen months and I hope to see 15, 20, 25 other veteran's courts open across the country," he replied.

Right now about 35 veterans are in the program. They are right in the middle of it now. Those who complete the program will graduate at the beginning of next year.

Veterans who need some help but are not violating the law in anyway can go through the program too. For more information about Veteran's Court, call 716-845-2697.

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The Community Preservation Act

2008-04-07T12:42:00.000-04:00

The Community Preservation Act is statewide enabling legislation to allow cities and towns to exercise control over local planning decisions. This legislation strengthens and empowers Massachusetts communities:
All decisions are local.
Local people must vote by ballot to adopt the Act.
Local legislatures must appoint a committee of local people to draw up plans for use of the funds.
These plans are subject to local comment and approval.
If residents don’t feel the CPA is working as they expected, they can repeal it.
The Community Preservation Act provides new funding sources which can be used to address three core community concerns:
Acquisition and preservation of open space
Creation and support of affordable housing
Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes
A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be used for each of the three core community concerns. The remaining 70% can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or for land for recreational use. This gives each community the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan for its future, and have the funds to make those plans happen.Property taxes traditionally fund the day-to-day operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance. - and more. But until the CPA, there was no steady funding source for preserving and improving a community’s infrastructure. The Community Preservation Act can give a community the funds needed to control its future.
I heard a discussion at the Senior Building meeting that they would like to be sure that our Historical Society to be involved in developing a plan for the decorating and furnish memobelia and funding for the New Senior Communit Center "A WAY OUT SUGGESTION??" Any consiedation for opening dialog on this act. Failed Election
1/6/01 3129-5531 Howard McGowan

Medicare

2008-03-13T10:48:00.000-04:00

March 13, 2008
Heart Scans Still Covered by Medicare
By REED ABELSON
Reversing a proposed decision issued in December, the federal government said Wednesday it would continue to cover the use of an increasingly popular procedure to detect heart disease.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it would continue to cover the scanning procedure, despite its earlier misgivings over whether there was enough evidence to justify paying for the tests under Medicare.
The agency said Wednesday that it would continue to leave payments for the scans up to the local insurance carriers it employs to oversee medical claims. Most local carriers have been covering the test, a form of CT scan that can cost $600 or more.
“We found that the evidence is not black and white either way,” said Dr. Barry Straube, chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Given the overwhelming criticism of the preliminary decision, the agency decided it did not have enough reason to override local carriers’ decision to cover the tests as medically necessary.
“Before we make a significant change in policy, we need more evidence,” said Dr. Straube, who indicated the agency would still like studies testing whether the scans are medically effective.
But much of medicine, including treatments Medicare pays for, is similarly unproven. “There are a lot of technologies, services and treatments that have not been unequivocally shown to improve health outcomes in a definitive manner,” Dr. Straube said.
Medicare paid for roughly 70,000 of the heart scans in 2006, according to the agency, at a cost of $40 million to $50 million. For people not yet eligible for Medicare, thousands of other such scans were paid for by commercial insurers or from patients’ own pockets, at prices sometimes close to $1,000. As many as 1,500 centers around the country are estimated to be offering the scans, with some centers advertising their services.
The agency’s decision to continue paying for scans means their use is likely to continue to climb, according to doctors and insurers. Private insurers often follow Medicare’s lead on what medical procedures they will pay for.
The scans are now widely promoted as a noninvasive alternative to tests like angiography, which requires the insertion of a catheter into the blood vessels and can cost thousands of dollars. But conventional angiography is typically done only on patients with cardiac symptoms. There is growing concern that the CT scans are being done increasingly on those who show no signs of heart disease, subjecting them needlessly to radiation risks.
“Before it enters widespread use, it needs to be critically examined, and it has not been,” said Dr. Mark Grant, a senior scientist for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, which told the agency it favored further study.
In December, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had said it would not pay for the scans unless patients were enrolled in a study to test the technology’s effectiveness. The Blue Cross group said Wednesday that without a Medicare mandate for such research, there might be little likelihood now that doctors or equipment makers would do it.
The proposal to curtail payments met with fierce resistance from doctors who perform these scans and companies that make the equipment. They strongly defended the scans as an important alternative to conventional angiography and said patients who could not enroll in a study of the scans would be unfairly denied access to the technology.
“I think this is great news for patients,” Dr. Constantino S. Peña, the director of vascular imaging at the Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute in Miami, said of Wednesday’s ruling.
Among the organizations advocating Medicare coverage were professional societies representing doctors who do scans, including the American College of Cardiology and the North American Society for Cardiac Imaging.
“The biggest role we played is educating” the Medicare agency, said Dr. Pamela K. Woodard, the society’s president.
Proponents argue that many studies are being done. “Within one year, there will be 10 times as much evidence of the effectiveness” of the heart scans, said Dr. Daniel S. Berman, president-elect of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, who said his group and others presented the agency significant evidence of the scans’ usefulness.
But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the final decision, said there remained “uncertainty regarding any potential health benefits” from the scans and described the existing evidence as of “overall limited quality and limited applicability.”
Given the amount of resistance, the agency was not able to justify scaling back coverage, said Dr. Sean Tunis, a former Medicare official who is director of a nonprofit group, the Center for Medical Technology Policy, aimed at evaluating new technology. “Without new evidence that something is either ineffective or harmful,” he said, “it’s very hard for Medicare to narrow existing coverage.”
And yet, Dr. Tunis said, Wednesday’s decision indicates the agency “continues to feel there are important unanswered questions.” His group had been in discussions with health insurers and equipment makers to consider conducting the studies that the agency originally envisioned, as a way to show whether the technology was, in fact, better than existing tests and improved patients’ health.
Without the Medicare agency’s insisting upon them, such studies would probably now be more difficult to organize, he acknowledged, although he said he planned to reach out to members of the working group to determine what steps might be taken.
Home

Keep McFadden Manor Open

2008-03-11T19:55:00.000-04:00

AS A MEMBER OF MASS SENIOR ACTION I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY SENIOR ISSUES.
RIGHT NOW MASS SENIOR ACTION IS INVOLVED IN FINDING THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR CARING FOR OUR AGING POPULATION
ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES IS DEALING WITH THE "HOUSE OF HORRORS" KNOWN AS NURSING HOMES AND GETTING MORE HUMANE WAYS OF DELIVERING HEALTH CARE THAT THE MAJORITY OF ELDERLY THE FAMILIES AND CARE GIVERS VOTE FOR HOME CARE IN FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOODS
IN MALDEN WE HAVE FOUND AN "OASIS" TO THE NURSING HOME PROBLEM FOR SATISFACTORY HUMANE AND ADEQUATE
CARE IN A CITY OWNED FACILITY FOR CRITICALLY ILL CLIENTS WHERE A HOME CARE ENVIRONMENT IS PRACTICED
KEEP MCFADDEN MANOR OPEN

Social Security

2008-02-26T17:03:00.001-05:00

Notch
The Senior Citizens League members and supporters tend to be older, less affluent seniors. They are also, to a large extent, Notch babies - those individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter. TSCL feels that this is an inequity that was brought about because of the Social Security Act Amendments enacted and signed into law in 1977. Just years before they were set to retire, these individuals discovered they would have significantly lower benefits than originally anticipated. And the problem only grew and compounded with the inflation that occurred in the early 1980s. Thus, in order to make the Social Security program more equitable in general, and to correct a wrong done to Notch babies, we believe that some recompense for that injustice should be provided.
TSCL strongly supported legislation introduced in the 109th Congress that would have provided either a lump-sum payment or an increased monthly benefit calculation to Notch babies. We were pleased to see that Congressman Ralph HallТs legislation, H.R. 615, got 118 co-sponsors in the last session - more than in any other session of Congress since the lump-sum proposal has been before Congress. We will continue to educate new Members of the House and Senate about the Notch and to work with past supporters of the Notch. With an increasing number of Notch co-sponsors during each of the last three sessions of Congress, we are hopeful that some type of Notch reform will take place in the 110th Congress.

Stimulus Package

2008-02-20T20:46:00.000-05:00

Q: I normally don't need to file a tax return. How do I know if I'm one of those people who may be eligible to receive an economic stimulus payment?A: This group includes some recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement or veterans' benefits as well as taxpayers who do not make enough money to normally have to file a 2007 tax return. For example, this can include low-income workers, those who receive Social Security benefits or veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007. These people will be eligible to receive a payment of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying income.Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits, certain veterans’ benefits and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. For people filing joint tax returns, only a total of $3,000 of qualifying income from both spouses is required to be eligible for a payment.

Special Guidelines for Recipients of Certain Social Security, Veterans and Railroad BenefitsCertain people who normally are not required to file but who are eligible for the stimulus payment will have to file a 2007 tax return. This includes low-income workers or those who receive Social Security benefits or veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007. These taxpayers will be eligible to receive a payment of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying income.Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits, certain veterans’ benefits and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. For taxpayers filing joint tax returns, only a total of $3,000 of qualifying income from both spouses is required to be eligible for a payment.The special version of the Form 1040A unveiled today on IRS.gov shows taxpayers in these groups the specific sections of the form they need to fill out to qualify for the stimulus payment. The mock-up is designed to be used as a guide for filling out an actual Form 1040A."People who don’t normally need to file have a roadmap on how to fill out the Form 1040A quickly and easily," Stiff said. "We encourage recipients of Social Security and veterans’ benefits who don’t normally need to file a tax return to use this mock-up of the form as a guide to help them get their stimulus payment."The Form 1040A illustration on IRS.gov shows the limited number of lines that will need to be filled out for recipients of Social Security, certain Railroad Retirement and certain veterans’ benefits. A key line is reporting their 2007 benefits on Line 14a of Form 1040A. The IRS reminds taxpayers they can also use Line 20a on Form 1040 to report these same benefits.In addition, taxpayers in these groups should write the words "Stimulus Payment" at the top of the 1040A or 1040.For now, taxpayers in this group filing a tax return can only file a paper copy of the Form 1040 or Form 1040A. The IRS is working to update its systems to accept electronic versions of these limited-information returns for taxpayers who otherwise have no need to file a tax return. The IRS is also working with the software community to handle these returns electronically at a future date.The IRS also reminded taxpayers with Social Security, Railroad Retirement or veterans’ benefits who have already filed but did not report their qualifying benefits on either Line 14a of Form 1040A or Line 20a of Form 1040 that they may need to file an amended return in some situations to receive a larger stimulus payment.Taxpayers who already have filed but did not report these benefits can file an amended return by using Form 1040X, which can only be filed with a paper form.The IRS reminded taxpayers who don’t have any other requirement to file a tax return that submitting a tax return to qualify for the economic stimulus payments does not create any additional tax or trigger a tax bill. In addition, the stimulus payments will not have any effect on eligibility for federal benefits.The IRS is working with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations to ensure that recipients are aware of the need to file a tax return to receive their stimulus payment in 2008.

File 1040 A stimulas package

2008-02-19T18:37:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday President Bush signed into law H.R. 5140, the economic stimulus package. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said that rebate checks could be in the mail as early as May. Individuals will receive $600, couples will receive $1200, and an additional $300 will be given for each child under 17. Individuals and couples earning over $75,000 and $150,000, respectively, will have their eligibility phased out. Individuals who earn $3,000, receive Social Security or are disabled veterans will receive $300.

MASS SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL METRO NORTH CHAPTER

2008-02-16T10:52:00.005-05:00

fOR TRANPORTATION CALL PAM 781 864 2596

ATTENTION VERY BIG NEWS February 27,2008 1:oo PM
Community Room 557 Pleasant Street Malden Ma
INFORMATION MEETING LONG TERM CARE Do you want your care
to be in a nursing home or your home.
Find out how to get the care you want!!!
17 Minute Halth Care DVD What is Single Payer? Who is against it? is it bad?
Would it make America's health care better? Get information before you see the movie "SICKO"
MSAC SPONSORS "SICKO" THE MOVIE MARCH 24 1:00PM MALDEN SENIOR CENTER

EVERY ONE IS INVITED TO OUR MEETINGS AND SPONSORED EVENTS

America Seniors Deserve Better Health Care

2008-02-14T16:37:00.002-05:00

PUSH CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION
LOWER RX COSTS We need to legalize the importation of safe less expensive presciption drug from other countries. Also, Medicare should be allowed to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers. Under Current law, even though large employers can negotiate prices for their employees, Medicare is barred from doing the same. This must be stopped.
MODERNIZE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: Technology can be used to improve the quality of health care we receive and lower costs. Health care information should be standardized and readily available to your health care professionals. For example, emergency rooms should be able to wuickly access your medical records from all your physicians. Technology can be to reduce administrative costs and better inform the patient. Also, health care professionals and institutions that provide the best care most efficiently should be rewarded--we must stop subsidizing and encouraging the least efficient and least effective care.
IMPROVE PATIENT CARE: Medical errors can be reduced by improving and standardizing technology would improve patient care and reduce costs. We also believe that more preventative services are needed.. Patient care is more than caring for you when you are sick. It is also about keeping you from getting ill in the first place.
PROVIDE BETTER OPTIONS FOR LONG-TERM CARE: There are too few long-term care options. As a nation we must help people plan for and receeive long-term care is a setting that works best for them. including home based care. Family caregivers also need relief, such as through tax credits. More and better options for financing long term care should be available.
PUSH CONGRESS TO ENACT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA'S SENIORS.

Universal Health needed

2008-02-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

The private insurance system's main techniques for holding down costs are practicing risk selection, limiting the services covered, constraining payments to providers, and shifting costs to patients। But given the system's fragmentation and perverse incentives, much cost-effective care is squeezed out, resources are increasingly allocated in response to profit opportunities rather than medical need, many attainable efficiencies are not achieved, unnecessary medical care is provided for profit, administrative expenses are high, and enormous sums are squandered in efforts to game the system। The result is a blend of overtreatment and undertreatment — and escalating costs।

अस्सिस्तेद LIVING

2008-02-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

Assisted Living Program Overview

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The Office of Elder Affairs certifies Assisted Living Residences in Massachusetts and offers the Assisted Living Ombudsman Program to provide advocacy, information and complaint resolution to consumers.
One of the most rapidly growing forms of residential long-term care in Massachusetts is Assisted Living. Assisted Living Residences (ALRs) offer a combination of housing, meals and personal care services to adults on a rental basis. Assisted living residences are not the same as licensed nursing facilities; ALRs do not provide medical or nursing services. They are not designed for people who need serious medical care.

Instead, assisted living is intended for adults who may need some help with activities such as housecleaning, meals, bathing, dressing and/or medication reminders and who would like the security of having assistance available on a 24 hour basis in a residential and non-institutional environment. The underlying philosophy of assisted living is based on providing needed services to residents in a way that enhances their autonomy, privacy and individuality. Residents have the right to make choices in all aspects of their lives.

2008-02-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

PROPOSED MEDICARE CUTS WILL HARM HOPITALS WHILE HELPING INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Medical News Today Fri, 01 Feb 2008 3:14 AM PST
President Bush's budget proposal, expected to be made public on Monday, will call for cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, ambulance services, and home care agencies.According to Judith Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, "These cuts will ultimately harm seniors, disabled people, and anyone who needs hospital care.

Veterans Issues: Why we support our military

2007-12-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

Veterans Issues: Why we support our military

Social Security COLA Protest

2007-12-01T16:58:00.000-05:00

SENIOR CITIZENS LEAGUE "Defending your Earned Benefits"
Your 2008 COLA could be less than 1.5%-but what percentage will Congress pay themselves?
They receive a 4% or 5% COLA while you get 2% or 3% and their annual income increases by thousands of dollars while seniors receive only a few hundred extra dollars.
Can we tell the Congress that we would like a COLA exactly the same as the one they receive?
The recent Medicare changes mean almost every cent of the increase will be eaten up by your annual medicare premium increase
IT IS LIKE THEIR WILL BE NO COLA FOR MILLIONS OF SENIORS

ANOTHER FAR MORE ACCURATE COLA CALCULATION METHOD THAT WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR SENIORS
Seniors are being shortchanged
Any Senior on Social Security "known as Notch babies" gets an average of 97 dollars less than it ought to be.

Shine Representative at the Senior Center

2007-11-17T22:05:00.000-05:00

MASS SENIOR ACTION METRO NORTH WELCOMES NEW SHINE REPRESENTIVE AT MALDEN SENIOR CENTER
When many Seniors in the Malden Area and our Senior Group had trouble getting a Shine representative to furnish needed information on the confusing Medicare D plan and the Commonwealth secondary insurance PRESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE our board contacted the Mystic Valley Elder Services Executive Director Dan O’Leary (a MSAC member) to address the Problem and agreed to make an effort to improve the situation. We also made a visit to the Director of Elder Service Christine DePietro and on finding out that the problem was an issue
affecting Seniors at the Center we sought a solution.
We thank Christine DePietro for taking action and getting one of her staff (Kelly Chancy) to become a Shine representative.
“She will be participating in 50 hours of training to council elders, providing them with unbiased health information” according to the director of Senior Center.. “in to-days confusing HEALTH CARE options world, a confidential one and one meeting is necessary to make the best choice for you and your income”. Kelly will be taking appointments here in the Senior Center.
Mystic Valley Elder Services are looking for additional Volunteers

Senior Wants and Needs

2007-11-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

You ask a question What Seniors want?
There are many sides and opinions and all views should be considered.
My statement may not be “politically correct” and may be opposite to the politicians in Malden who try to sit on the fence. It is held by many of my
contacts and (in my opinion) deserves to be heard.

I. the organizations and city services in Malden get grants from Federal, State, and private sources stating in their proposals that they will be including Seniors in the services provided but then hedge when it comes
to producing the services mentioned.
2. Senior Citizens are getting more in the majority in the Cities population and are not used to the best advantage. They are “written off” as past their
prime and not worth consulting for their experience and skills.
THE CITY IS NOT USING SENIORS TO BEST ADVANTAGE.

Now for a list of what I think should be a priority in the immediate future for the City Officials to consider. I am stating these reasons with the hope they remember the biggest voting block in the City are Seniors!!!
a. get seniors involved in the programs being offered. b. improve transportation in the city.
c. Get computers for seniors in public housing and in
library, Cyber Café and at the senior center with
training and instruction.
d .Improve the area of affordable housing
e. support programs that Keep seniors in their own homes
f. MAKE THE CITY HALL OFFICES MORE USER FRIENDLY
I would like to see the senior population treated as a part of the general population not as a group judged by their weaknesses but by their strengths and what they can contribute to the “quality of life” of the
City. Look on the Senior population as an Asset not a liability.
Many Senior Citizens in Malden are not receiving subsidies or services from the City of Malden. They are placed thoughout the City and could be and should be considered when city services are to be offered.
Taxpaying citizens (this included everyone because no matter what our income or resources we pay taxes for everything we buy) are entitled to as many services as those provided to those considered in need and
supplied on a charitable basis.
It is important that all of our citizens are entitled to consideration by their elected city officials. They also have a “fiduciary duty” to appoint city department heads to serve the public and treat them with respect.
We expect those who choose to run for public office have the skill and experience to serve us well.
Howard McGowan
349 Pleasant Street
Malden, Ma 02148
hcmgowan@aol.com
781 324 8706

1.

Single Payer Health Plans

2007-11-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

Key Features of Single-Payer

Universal, Comprehensive Coverage
Only such coverage ensures access, avoids a two-class system, and minimizes expense
No out-of-pocket payments
Co-payments and deductibles are barriers to access, administratively unwieldy, and unnecessary for cost containment
A single insurance plan in each region, administered by a public or quasi-public agency
A fragmentary payment system that entrusts private firms with administration ensures the waste of billions of dollars on useless paper pushing and profits. Private insurance duplicating public coverage fosters two-class care and drives up costs; such duplication should be prohibited
Global operating budgets for hospitals, nursing homes, allowed group and staff model HMOs and other providers with separate allocation of capital funds
Billing on a per-patient basis creates unnecessary administrative complexity and expense. A budget separate from operating expenses will be allowed for capital improvements
Free Choice of Providers
Patients should be free to seek care from any licensed health care provider, without financial incentives or penalties
Public Accountability, Not Corporate Dictates
The public has an absolute right to democratically set overall health policies and priorities, but medical decisions must be made by patients and providers rather than dictated from afar. Market mechanisms principally empower employers and insurance bureaucrats pursuing narrow financial interests
Ban on For-Profit Health Care Providers
Profit seeking inevitably distorts care and diverts resources from patients to investors
Protection of the rights of health care and insurance workers
A single-payer national health program would eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people who currently perform billing, advertising, eligibility determination, and other superfluous tasks. These workers must be guaranteed retraining and placement in meaningful jobs.
from the American Journal of Public Health January 2003, Vol 93, No.1

MSAC Metro North Vision For Malden

2007-11-17T21:48:00.000-05:00

1 Vision that Malden has a first class Medical Facility to meets the needs of the changing demographics on the City
A Community Hospital
2 Vision that the new Senior Center becomes a full service an economic engine in the development of the downtown area and reaches out to all sections of the city for participation in
Recreation, Information and Health Services.
: Maximize and improve citizen participation in municipal decision-making: The high level of citizen participation is another important and distinctive problem to be solved in Malden. Citizens serve on boards and commissions and help to formulate policy and advise the City Council. There are many active neighborhood associations, merchant groups, and advocacy groups.
Improve Notification and the Dissemination of Information. Citizen complaints about inadequate notification about public meetings are common, and access to relevant information and reports can be difficult. The Plan contains policies to improve notification and to take advantage of recent technological(computer access) changes that can make important information broadly available to the public.
Improve Citizen Participation. Citizens should be actively involved in making decisions about anything that will have an impact on them and their families and neighborhoods. The Plan should mandate maximum citizen involvement in all public planning and decision-making processes. The Plan stresses the important role of neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in land use decisions.
Improve the Responsiveness of City Administration and Staff. Plan policies call for staff training and citizen involvement in evaluating the performance of the City’s administrative units

4 Vision for Malden expanding and supporting Adult Day Care to help in keeping Seniors And Disabled if the Home and their own neighborhoods.
Adult Day Health Centers provide frail adults experiencing physical, mental or social problems associated with stroke, isolation, confusion or other conditions with the opportunity to meet new people, participate in challenging activities and enjoy daily life in comforting surroundings. Supportive staff members and volunteers oversee a variety of activities specially designed to meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of adults who may be physically challenged or coping with some sort of dementia or memory loss. These activities can range from arts & crafts, discussion groups and light exercise to the provision of safe care to functionally impaired persons and can include such services as Case Management, Individual counseling, and health screening. Caring for a frail or disabled person is a demanding job. Adult Day Health Centers can provide caregivers with a much-deserved break, secure in the knowledge that family members are receiving excellent care
5 vision for Malden to assure programs under the control of the City serve our citizens well

Presciption Advantage

2007-11-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

Mass Senior Action Metro North
We would like to inform all Senior and disabled residents that
our efforts with the State Legislators have gained open enrollment!!!
Why Join Prescription Advantage?
Because........There is no monthly premium.

Because.........It supplements your Medicare prescription benefit by
helping to pay co-payments and other gaps in coverage*

Because..........It limits the amount of money you will pay for prescriptions**.

Because..........You cannot afford not to join.**

*includes HMO’s
**Annual out of pocket Spending Limit
Prescription Advantage covers the D0-NUT hole

Howard McGowan
Board Member
MSAC 781 324 8076

For information and help see
SHINE REPRESENTATIVE Kelly Clancy Talk or make appointment 781-397-7144 Senior Center for all your medical and prescription needs.

Other Contacts 1-800-AGE-INFO ()1-800-243-4636 TTY 1 877 610 0241
www.800ageinfo.com

Community based services for seniors

2007-11-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget does not provide a meaningful funding increase for state programs providing in-home and community-based services for seniors whose incomes are above the Federal Poverty Guidelines. In Berkshire County two such programs, State Home Care and Enhanced Community Options, are serving more than 1,000 lower income seniors a month. These two programs help seniors to continue to live in their own homes with dignity and independence by providing assistance with such things as bathing, getting to and from the bathroom, getting dressed and ready for the day, and homemaking. The State Home Care and Enhanced Community Options Programs need increased funding to keep up with the growing need for the services they provide.
1. Without increased funding, lower income seniors may once again be caught in the middle and may “fall through the cracks” between the MassHealth and state programs. These seniors have incomes above the Federal Poverty Guidelines criteria for the MassHealth programs that have received additional funding; however, there may be little or no room for them in the state programs for which they are financially eligible, because of a lack of additional funding in those programs. Other vital senior services, which need additional funding to keep up with senior needs, include the Councils on Aging, Protective Services, Mental Health Services, and the Nutrition/Meals on Wheels Program. Additional funding for these services will help seniors to continue to live in their own homes and communities — which is where they want to be.

Heritage Apartments

2007-11-17T21:33:00.000-05:00

In Exchange for $10.8 million in financing, the owner First Church in Malden Home's Inc. will agree to extend afforability until 2046, renew the development's Section 8 contracts and maintain 100% ogf the units as affordable for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income, which is $52,900 for a family of two in Malden.
In addition 86% (152) of the units will be affordable to households earning no more than 60% of the area median income which is $39,720 for a family of two in Malden