Senior Center News, March 30, 2018

North Central Senior Citizens Center, April 2-6

Monday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; bingo at 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m; TOPS at 8 a.m.; cards at 1 p.m.

Thursday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; pinochle at 1 p.m.; Kmart and Walmart shopping 1 to 4 p.m.

Friday — Medical transportation will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but people must make a request at least 24 hours in advance.

No cards played this week

March Menu by Earlene DeWinter

(Subject to Change)

Monday — Chicken-broccoli casserole, garlic cheddar biscuits, fruit cups, oatmeal fudge bars

Tuesday — Salad, baked ham, mashed Potatoes with gravy, sunshine carrots, pineapple upside-down cake

Wednesday — Blueberry pancakes, hashbrown bake, omelets, yogurt, juice

Thursday — Swedish meatballs, rice, Harvard beets, dessert

Friday — Soup, salad bar, chef’s choice, dessert, milk

We want to update everyone who has been so generously donating to our steam table fund over the last four months. We have estimated the cost of a new steam table at today’s prices at about $10,000 and we have received $5,667.65 so far in donated funds toward our goal. Who would have thought we would find so many gentle people willing to do so much good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition? Thank you again. I know it won’t be long before we meet and complete our goal.

AARP Smart Drivers Safety Class will be held at the Senior Center, April 16, 1-5 p.m. The fee will be $15 if you are an AARP member, and $20 if you are not. Be up to speed with the latest driving strategies, auto safety features and new state and local traffic laws. There are no driving tests or exams. And while this class is designed for drivers 50 and over, all drivers are welcome. Montana mandates insurance discounts for qualified participants. Upon completion you may be eligible to receive an auto insurance discount. Other restrictions may apply; consult your insurance agent for details.

Introducing Your New Medicare Card

The new cards will start arriving in April and continue to be distributed for a full year (it’s a really big job!). Your social security number will be replaced by a new Medicare number. This will reduce your risk of identity theft. If you lose the new card, your whole identity won’t be compromised, and the card can easily be replaced.

And as long as Medicare has your current mailing address, you won’t have to do anything to get your new card. If you receive a phone call or email saying you have to confirm your information or pay a fee for the new card, hang up the phone or delete the email. It’s a scam. Don’t fall for it. And once you get your new card, be sure to shred your old one. Don’t just throw it in the trash.

Tax Preparation Assistance

AARP aides are still preparing taxes. The last day they will be taking appointments will be Tuesday, April 10. Yes, we are still taking appointments now.

Ride For Your Life: Ambulance Use and Abuse

Ambulance transportation is expensive. Medicare covers ambulance rides, but there are a number of conditions that must be met. The trip must be “medically necessary,” usually the result of an accident of health emergency. The patient can only be taken as far as the nearest facility that can treat the problem appropriately. And the vehicle itself must meet certain criteria for what it contains.

Also, and very importantly, the patient’s condition is such that the use of any other method of transportation is contraindicated. Which just means, is there other means that could be used without endangering the individual’s health. If you can walk into the ambulance and they don’t have to perform any life-sustaining treatment on the ride, chances are this ride would not be considered medically necessary. If you aren’t sure, ask the EMT and make sure you understand whether you’ll be financially liable. If there’s any question about whether Medicare will cover the trip, the ambulance company must let you know in advance, and you will have to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice acknowledging that you will be responsible for the charges.

Ambulance charges are subject to fraud, waste and abuse. The company, in order to get paid, may submit a claim that tries to make your condition seem more serious than it actually was. It may bill for more miles than were actually driven. Or it may try to bill you directly for the full charge even though Medicare would pay the claim because then it avoids the reduced fee Medicare will most likely pay. This is another example of why it’s so important for you to carefully study your bill.