CARIE - Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly » Elder Care Issues

Help Fight Hunger

Kathy Cubit — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:35:19 +0000

Please join CARIE and other advocates throughout Pennsylvania in contacting Governor Corbett to help prevent the loss of SNAP benefits. Governor Corbett is proposing to reinstate an asset test that will cause thousands to lose their benefits. Please click here for more information and how to help.

Diabetic Supply Scam Featured on 3-On Your Side

Kathy Cubit — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:55:55 +0000

Channel 3 consumer reporter Jim Donovan interviewed CARIE Board member and SMP Volunteer, Jacqueline Jefferson, and CARIE PA-SMP Project Manager, Rebecca Nurick, about a recent scam related to diabetic supplies. Click here to view the video and read the accompanying article.

Free Webinar – Housing and Home Ownership Issues

Kathy Cubit — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:37:48 +0000

Please join us for a free webinar, Housing and Home Ownership Issues, on February 9, 2012 from 1:30-2:30 PM EST. CARIE and the SeniorLaw Center will explore typical legal problems faced by homeowners and offer suggestions on how to protect their homes. Space is limited so please Register Now. After registering you will receive a confirmation email message containing information about joining the webinar.

Scam and Fraud News

Kathy Cubit — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:53:01 +0000

The Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol (PA-SMP) issued two recent ScamWires. The first ScamWire, Diabetic Supplies Scam Calls, explains reports from consumers who are getting multiple calls from supply companies who then try to bill Medicare for unwanted supplies. The second ScamWire, Medicare Part D Scam, describes a new scam targeting Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

PA Family Caregiver Bill Passes!

Kathy Cubit — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:22:41 +0000

On December 13, the PA Senate unanimously passed House Bill 210! The bill amends the PA Family Caregiver Support Act – “further providing for intent, for definitions, for caregiver support program, for reimbursements and for entitlement not created.” The bill now goes to Governor Corbett for his signature. CARIE and many others advocated for years to make improvements to this vital program. This is the first update to the program since its inception in 1990. While the bill was amended and doesn’t make all the improvements we asked for, it will go a long way in helping caregivers in Pennsylvania. The bill updates the definitions of a caregiver to be more reflective of current caregivers and compatible with the federal program. This will allow funds allocated from the PA lottery to be spent to help more families instead of being left unspent. In the past two years, the Department of Aging underspent the Lottery funds appropriated to this program by over $1 million each year. The changes in the definitions will enable the Department of Aging to spend all the funding appropriated to this program. There is a waiting list of about 450 individuals for the federal program who should be served as a result of this legislation. The bill also gives AAA’s some latitude in increasing the monthly reimbursement amount up to $500 for hardship cases. Please extend a special thanks to Representative Matt Baker, Chair of the House Health Committee and prime sponsor of House Bill 210, as well as Senator Kim Ward, Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee and prime sponsor of Senate Bill 639, a companion bill in the Senate, for their efforts in getting this legislation passed.

Thanks to all advocates who helped with this effort!

Free Webinar – Scams, Schemes, and Fraud

Kathy Cubit — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:11:53 +0000

Please join us for a free webinar, Scams, Schemes, and Frauds, on January 12 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EST. Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline and Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) will be presenting on the top ten scams impacting older adults and how to avoid being a victim. Bonnie Dahl, Esquire, Director of the Pennsylvania SeniorLAW HelpLine, and Raquel Smith, Legal Advocate of the Pennsylvania SeniorLAW HelpLine, will describe the most typical types of scams/frauds, tactics used to lure seniors into participating in a scam/fraud via electronic media, mail, and direct contact, and what to do if you have become a victim of a scam/fraud. Karen Chenoweth, CARIE LINE Supervisor, will present on the steps necessary to avoid being the victim of a scam/fraud and what to do if you have become the victim of a scam/fraud. Space is limited so please Register Now. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

CBS 3′s Part D Phone Bank

Kathy Cubit — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:39:05 +0000

CARIE’s Karen Chenoweth participated in CBS 3′s Medicare Part D phone bank along with fellow APPRISE counselors and CMS staff to help educate the public about Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period. Jim Donovan interviewed Karen about how consumers can protect themselves against scams and fraud.

CARIE Hosts Free Webinar

Kathy Cubit — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:17:10 +0000

Join CARIE for a free webinar, Health Care Fraud and Scams: The Impact on Elders, on November 10th from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EST. This webinar focuses on common health care scams and fraud and how elders are affected by these schemes. Advocates will learn what they can do to help their clients as well as how seniors can protect themselves. Space is limited. Register now to reserve your webinar seat. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about how to join the webinar.

“Shared Living” Request for Information

Kathy Cubit — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:47:26 +0000

On September 30, CARIE submitted comments in response to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s (DPW’s) “Shared Living” Request For Information (RFI). DPW issued the RFI “to solicit information concerning potential options for improving Pennsylvania’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) through implementation and expanded marketing of the existing Shared Living Program (SLP) for targeted Medical Assistance (MA) program participants.”

CaregiverGPS in the News

Kathy Cubit — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:31:35 +0000

CARIE’s CaregiverGPS is featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer column by Monica Yant Kinney, New website offers guidance on caring for elderly parents.