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Low vision awareness
Age-
Here’s how AMD can affect your life.
Picture the best moments of your life: family celebrations, dinner with friends or vacations at the beach. Imagine reading your favorite books, watching a beloved show or driving to a special place. All these experiences rely on the gift of sight. Unfortunately for many , especially those 50 and older, risks for (AMD) increase with age and can contribute to declining vision and the inability to rely on your eyesight.
What is AMD?
AMD is a progressive eye condition and is the leading cause of low vision. Low vision is a general term for a range of vision problems that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, surgery or medications. It can make everyday activities like reading, cooking and driving difficult. Understanding and addressing AMD and low vision is crucial to maintaining your independence and quality of life.
Recognizing symptoms
There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. Depending on the type of AMD symptoms can vary. Either dry or wet AMD may show the following vision changes:
Blurred vision.
Straight lines appearing wavy.
Colors seeming less bright.
Difficulty seeing in low lighting.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. A dilated eye exam can identify if you have either type of AMD. Timely care makes a big difference in managing these conditions.
Health conditions and risk factors
AMD is not the only condition that can cause low vision: Cataracts, diabetic retinopathy (leading cause of low vision in working age adults) and glaucoma, and many others are also known contributors. Prevention and early detection are key to managing low vision, so it’s essential to get regular eye exams. Annual visits to an eye doctor can help detect vision problems before they become more severe and catching these conditions early can help slow the progression of diseases impacting your ability to see.
Revised Local 1056 Death Benefit
A death benefit is available to those Retirees members who were in good standing with ATU Local 1056. The following information is needed for ATU’s Files:
Original Death Certificate
Copy of funeral bill
Social Security number of the person who paid the funeral bill
To file a claim call ATU Local 1056, 718 949-
29.10 Amount of Benefit: the amount of funeral or dismemberment benefit to which the IU is responsible for payment in case of death of a member during the second (2 nd) year of continuous membership or thereafter shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), effective October 1, 2022. Revised from ($1,000.00).
The local union shall match the International amount making the total sum paid $4,000
P.S. "Must be a Member in good standing with the ATU. Local 1056"
CHAPTER MEMBERS BE ALERT
The chapter has received information that some members are receiving phone calls , text ,social media and other forms of contact from fraudulent people trying to obtain information to update Social Security and Medicare information. Please be vigilant and don’t provide any information.
NOTE FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has encountered a wide variety of scams in which fraudsters use technology to impersonate official government personnel from HHS or OIG. These scammers target individuals through various methods, including phone, email, or social media in an attempt to obtain personal, medical, or financial information. Scammers may claim they need information to verify medical claims . Once these criminals have your personal information, they will use it to steal money from you or commit fraud.
The public should remain vigilant for such scams. OIG cautions the public against sending money or sharing personal, medical, or financial information with unknown individuals who claim to be government officials. If you believe you have been the target or victim of a scam in which someone impersonated HHS or HHS OIG officials, please report this contact to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-
New Pass Office Location
We have been informed that the New York City Employee Pass Office located at 180 Livingston Street will be relocating. The pass office will be closed Feb. 16 and will re-
New York City Employee Pass Office
149 Pierrepont Street,
3rd FL Room 3202
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
Phone 1-
1-
Marlex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg and Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg Due to Label Mix-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 30, 2023 – New Castle, Delaware, Marlex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg and one lot of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg to the consumer level due to Label Mix-
Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg are yellow, circular, beveled, uncoated tablets scored between "N" and "201" on one side and plain on the other side.
Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg are white to off-
Risk Statement: The mix-
If you have been exposed to a toxic substance during your military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits, even if you have been turned down in the past. Apply by August 9, 2023, to possibly have your benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, if approved.
Join VA and representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) for a live broadcast on Facebook, August 2 at 3:30 p.m. EDT, to learn about the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The law adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances, helping VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
Company recalling blood pressure pills because of impurity
present
Lupin Pharmaceuticals issued a voluntary recall of some blood pressure medication due to the potential presence of a nitrosamine impurity, according to a notice published on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website.
The recall, issued last week, includes one batch of 20-
Lupin Pharmaceuticals said, during recent testing, the presence of N-
People taking 20-
COBRA coverage effective August 1st. Is
WEXHEALTH
Customer Svc :
1-
7am to 9pm
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
To help Retirees Stay Up to date with the COVID Pandemic Aetna has Extra Benefits to Help
Aetna Pre-
Postcard communications on helpful resources.
Outreach calls were made by nurses to those most at risk and to those who were engaged in case management
Caring for you kits mailed in October to all Aetna Medicare Advantage members only that included, masks, hand sanitizer, cough drops and much more
CPPO Basic retirees with Medicare A & B as their primary coverage can access COVID information by calling the Aetna Concierge at 1-
Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement
Each year the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates are adjusted according to the Social Security Act. For 2021, the Medicare Part B monthly premiums and the annual deductible are higher than the 2020 amounts. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $148.50 for 2021, an increase of $3.90 from $144.60 in 2020.
"Retirees Taking Care of Retirees"
Subject: Benefits Planner: Retirement | Benefits For Your Family
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html#h2
We know this year has been a difficult one. The COVID-
As your health partner, we’re committed to keeping you up to date on the latest vaccine news, including when and how you and your family can get the vaccine.
What we know today
While it's not yet certain when all vaccinations will begin and how they will be handled in different states, rest assured that there will be no cost to Aetna® members to receive the COVID-
We expect that vaccine distribution will occur in phases, beginning with high-
What we're doing to get ready
As you know, Aetna is part of the CVS Health® family. CVS Health was one of the companies chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to play a key role in COVID-
All of the nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy ® stores nationwide are being readied to administer COVID-
Lastly, for as long as it’s needed, COVID-
Preparing you for what's next
This will be the first of many communications you’ll receive about the COVID-
If you would like more information on the COVID-
In good health,
Aetna, a CVS Health company
2021 0129 Benes Medicare Document
On December 23, Congress passed several key provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477) as part of a comprehensive legislative package. Signed into law days later, these policies will update Medicare enrollment rules for the first time in over 50 years to end lengthy waits for coverage, expand critical administrative flexibilities, and inform future policymaking on enrollment period alignment.
The bipartisan BENES Act was introduced in the 116th Congress by Senators Bob Casey (D-
In applauding passage, Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi issued the following statement:
"Thanks to the BENES Act’s congressional champions—Senators Casey and Young and Representatives Ruiz, Bilirakis, Schneider, and Walorski—as well as House and Senate leadership, the committees of jurisdiction, and dedicated congressional staffers, millions of Americans will be able to avoid enrollment pitfalls of the current system and more easily connect with their earned Medicare benefits. We are profoundly grateful to our pro bono partners at King & Spalding, along with the bill’s many stakeholders and supporters, for their efforts to advance these lasting and vital Medicare improvements."
The adopted BENES Act policies will modernize Medicare enrollment in several important ways:
The bill eliminates the up to seven month-
It reduces barriers to care by expanding Medicare’s authority to grant a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for "exceptional circumstances." A long-
To further maximize coverage continuity and ease transitions to Medicare, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify ways to align Medicare’s annual enrollment periods. HHS is to present these findings in a report to Congress by January 1, 2023.
In addition to these changes, the wide-
Recall alert for certain Philips medical devices
Philips recently issued a product recall for specific ventilators and sleep apnea devices.
If you own or rent one of the Philips products that was recalled, talk to your doctor as soon as possible about whether to continue using your recalled equipment.
More Info
If you would like to replace or repair your equipment, the supplier you bought the equipment from is responsible for replacing or repairing rental equipment at no cost to you when the equipment is less than 5 years old. If the equipment is more than 5 years old, Medicare will help pay for a replacement.
Important: Register your recalled equipment with Philips so they know you need a replacement, and can provide information on the next steps for a permanent corrective solution.
To register your equipment:
• Visit philips.com/src-
• Call 1-
Sincerely,
The Medicare Team
You can update your preferences or use our 1-
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