Move to managed care on track for Oct. 1, secretary says

Despite a recent request to delay by an advisory council, and a low number of signups by hospitals so far, the move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients should be completed by Oct. 1.

"We are prepared to proceed with an Oct. 1 timeframe," said Janie Miller, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, right, as she updated the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee Monday. "I know it is quick and it is coming."

The advisory council had asked the cabinet to delay, saying the Oct. 1 deadline did not give providers enough time to review contracts. Several legislators also feel the move is happening too quickly. "Oct. 1 just seems a little scary for some of us," said Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville. She said "doctors, pharmacists and other providers have contacted her to voice concerns that they don't have enough information about which managed care company to sign on with," Deborah Yetter of The Courier-Journal reports.

As of last Wednesday, "Only 15 or so of the state’s [109] hospitals had signed on with one of the three managed care providers," according to Miller, Ronnie Ellis reports for CNHI News Service. "She said she wants to see about 89 hospitals join one or more of the three networks but the contracts provide for “out of network” services if enough hospitals don’t join in rural or isolated areas." (Read more)

The move to managed care organizations is the state's answer to plug a $139 million hole in the Medicaid budget. Privatizing the program by using managed care will mean providers will be paid on a per-patient, per-month basis, which Gov. Beshear said will save $1.3 billion over three years. Right now, providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis, meaning they bill for each service that is provided. The move will affect more than 730,000 Kentuckians and will be run by four MCOs statewide, including Passport. As it has for several years, Passport will continue to provide managed care for 170,000 Kentuckians in Jefferson County and the surrounding area.

Within two weeks, 560,000 Kentuckians outside of the Passport jurisdiction will receive information packets about which of the other three companies will handle their care. Membership cards will be mailed in September, Yetter reports. Before the new program can be launched, the state must showed the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services it is ready. Miller said that if the program is not deemed to be ready, there would be a delay, Yetter reports. (Read more)

Unplug - Protect yourself from EMF exposure

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by: Lenette Nakauchi

(NaturalNews) Electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, are made of energy that is created by electronic and magnetic devices, such as cell phones, microwaves, refrigerators, power lines, and other common appliances and gadgets. The EMF is especially strong when these devices are plugged into the wall, allowing an increased amount of energy to infiltrate the area around them. For this reason, many people believe that unplugging electronic devices will help protect them against EMF exposure. But can it? Certainly.

A potentially dangerous issue, EMF exposure has been implicated as a factor that contributes to many health issues, including certain kinds of cancer, brain tumors, birth defects, fatigue, miscarriages, cataracts, headaches, stress, nausea, heart problems, and even chest pain and forgetfulness. Whether or not this is true is still, for the most part, up in the air, as scientists and researchers have pinpointed oftentimes conflicting evidence in their quest to determine the true dangers of exposure due to common items, such as cell phones. Though no conclusive answer has been reached, it is safe to say that evidence implies an inherent danger in excessive EMF exposure.

To completely avoid EMF exposure in today's world is virtually impossible, as electricity lies at the core of modern civilization. Do not be worried by this, though, as low levels of exposure will not do a great deal of harm; the problem occurs when individuals experience an excessive amount of exposure over a long period of time. Though many people may succeed in using as little electricity as possible, the fact remains that modern technology has made access to EMF exposure easier than ever. From smart phones and laptop computers to e-Readers and tablets, technology is becoming more portable and is designed to accompany people wherever they may go.

So how do you limit your risk of overexposure? Unplug anything you are not using, including the microwave, television, computer, DVD player, and other household items. Though electronic devices will certainly continue to produce EMF even when they are turned off and unplugged, keeping them functioning at the lowest possible level will reduce the overall amount of EMF exposure that they cause.

Though simply unplugging your electronic devices may seem to be an easy answer to the EMF exposure issue, the process of avoiding as many harmful substances as possible goes beyond unplugging your television. First, you must be aware of the different sources of EMF that exist in your home or office. Then, you should make it a point to stay as far away from these sources as possible. For example, try sitting farther back from the television or not standing in front of the microwave when heating up your leftovers. Simply understanding where the risk lies and reacting in a positive way can greatly reduce your EMF exposure.

Additionally, you could consider replacing your high EMF devices with electronics that do not plug in. For example, try using a battery operated alarm clock instead of one that plugs into the wall. You can also utilize a hands-free device for your phone, to keep the actual body of the cell phone as far away from you as possible without giving up the convenience that the cell phone offers.

Overall, unplugging your electronic devices is a great way to protect yourself against EMF exposure. Though the research on the dangers of EMF exposure is still categorized as inconclusive, the dangers of excessive exposure have been made clear. By staying as far away from electronic devices as possible and by disconnecting them from the wall, you can decrease your exposure and improve your overall well-being.

Sources
http://emf.mercola.com/sites/emf/em...
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/...
http://www.healthy-holistic-living/....

About the author
Lenette Nakauchi is a whole body vibration expert who is passionate about demonstrating to others how to go and stay lean and fit in a fun, healthy, sustainable way. Learn more about vibration exercise and how it's used for fitness, therapy, and weight loss at http://www.thenoblerexk1.com

UK Extension Service launches online challenge to improve physical and financial wellness

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has created an online challenge designed to help people improve their health and financial status. The Kentucky Fall 2011 Small Steps to Health and Wealth challenge starts Sept. 4 and runs to Oct. 2.

The free program asks participants to track daily choices they make about nutrition, physical activity and saving money. As they enter data into 10 categories, participants will earn points and see a comparison of their progress to other participants. Top finishers will receive prize packs. The first 150 people to complete the challenge will get a UK water bottle.

"As individuals work toward improving both their health and personal finances, it is important to realize that small changes do make a difference," said Jennifer Hunter, UK assistant extension professor for family financial management in the UK College of Agriculture. "Adopting only one of the 10 recommended daily practices is a step in the right direction."

To register, click here or call a local extension office.