Still Serving

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enforces the Federal privacy regulations commonly known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule (HIPAA). HIPAA requires most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers to protect the privacy of your health information. Here is a list of common questions about HIPAA and when health care providers may discuss or share your health information with your family members, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for care. (more…)

Nurses are the largest group of health care providers employed by the Veterans Affairs Department, but its medical centers face significant hurdles in recruiting and retaining them, according to a new report. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that VA implement a new staffing system and assess the barriers to alternative work schedules to improve the situation. (more…)

The phenomenon of middle-class, middle-aged Americans stretched to their emotional and financial limits caring for sick spouses or parents is one that’s already widespread and likely to get worse, experts say. Once private insurance benefits end, the only option for most Americans is Medicaid, which requires that recipients have less than $5,000 in assets. This means that couples are elders must exhaust most of their remaining assets to qualify. (more…)

When: Monday, September 15, 2008

Where: The plaza outside the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410

Why: The 2008 election campaigns have included rhetoric about tax breaks for middle income families, and media coverage has included stories about families who have children with disabilities. Left out of all the election rhetoric are the candidates’ positions on and commitments to those babies with disabilities who grow into adults with disabilities who all-too-often survive on extremely low incomes (less than 30% of the median income).

These extremely low incomes are often the fixed benefit amounts of SSI and Social Security.  In 2006, according to Priced Out in 2006, the federal SSI benefit was  $603/month and the average cost nationally of renting a studio/efficiency apartment was $633/month. (more…)

“Suicide Hot Line Got 22,000 Calls” read the headline in Military.com today ( July 28,2008 ).  As I read the story accompanying this headline I was not surprised by the statistics it presented.  “According to a recent RAND Corp. study, roughly one in five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), putting them at a higher risk for suicide.  Researchers at Portland State University found that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide than men who are not veterans.”  Although not surprised by the content of the article I was not ready for the emotions it generated within me. (more…)

Mr. Mark J. Bradley

Regent President

UW System 

Dear Mr. Bradley:

I take exception to the recent reports that seem to imply that your office is blaming veterans for the UW system 2008-09 tuition and fees increase.   But then it doesn’t surprise me when you realize that only 1,139 (3.47%) of the 32,826 UW System employees are veterans -

See data here:

The system record for new hires over the last three years even more pathetic.

(more…)

Link to it here

The following is a Blog entry from the Disaboom (Connecting the Millions Touched by Disability). The blog posting was written by Daniel Lawton. I believe this issue of interpretation of the ADA is critically important to everyone that believes that we must strengthen the civil rights protections that ADA affords to those impacted by disability. Please comment. (more…)

In a story in Wednesday’s Journal Sentinel, a man just walked in with a dolly and walked out with a 52 inch TV. Click here for the story. Is security good enough at Zablocki? Share your comments below.

From Military.com written by Tom Philpott:

The Bush administration has endorsed a House bill that would improve the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) education benefits in several ways including with a 31 percent jump in monthly benefits and a new $500-a-month stipend to help cover college living expenses.

(more…)