Watch for Symptoms

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) wants to remind people with Medicare that the program covers mental health services to support them

2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) Early Look Data Brief

CMS has announced the release the 2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) Early Look Data Brief. This Early Look Data Brief presents key preliminary estimates relevant to the community-dwelling Medicare population in advance of the upcoming MCBS 2018 Survey File LDS release anticipated in June 2020. 

KFF

Kaiser Family Health Reports Fearful Seniors Are Changing Their Living Wills

Kaiser Family Health Reports Fearful Seniors Are Changing Their Living Wills

Older Americans Month 2020

Medigap Life Salutes Older Americans Month – May 2020

Medigap Life Salutes Older Americans Month – May 2020

KFF

First SARS-CoV-2 Home Diagnostic Test Approved

The first SARS-CoV-2 home diagnostic test was approved on April 21, 2020. The test was developed by Labcorp. The initial plans are to make the test available to healthcare workers.

The test however, can not be used in states such as Maryland, New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island because those states currently only allow tests to be administered by physicians.

Kaiser Family Health News reports the story in detail here https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-policy-watch/at-home-sars-cov-2-diagnostic-tests-could-be-a-breakthrough-but-what-are-the-limitations/.

COVID Self Checker

The Coronavirus Self Checker Named Clara

Everyone can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Self-Checker, also known as Clara, can help you decide when to call your doctor if you are feeling sick. Try the symptom checker here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html#cdc-chat-bot-open

COVID-19 and Pets

We’re still learning about how #COVID19 affects animals, but it appears that people can spread the virus to animals in some situations. Until we know more, limit contact with pets if you are sick or feeling sick. For more info, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html.

Have you recently lost your coverage?

Have you recently lost your coverage?

Medicare Payment for Lab Services

Medicare Payment for Lab Services