Sharing the Health
Edith Williamson was diagnosed with COPD in 2001. She is now the president of the Better Breathers Club for the Skyline–Encanto, California areas, and is shown here at a recent meeting. Edith copes with COPD one day at a time!
Have you been diagnosed with COPD, know how to use a computer and tried to learn about how to best care for your symptoms? Share your knowledge with others and get paid to do it! The COPD Foundation mans an Information Line and is now offering to pay people with COPD $10 per hour to answer the phones.
In the past the service, which is available from 9 am to 9 pm EST, has been manned by volunteers. After going through a training program, you will be assigned a three-hour shift per week to answer questions and provide support. Call the Information Line at 1-866-316- 2673 for more details.
Our old friend, exercise physiologist Sherrie Evenson of Onward! Productions, has updated her exercises for seniors with a new DVD entitled Basic Moves.
Having worked in Cardio- Pulmonary Rehab for many years in Portland, Oregon, she reminds you to do your pursed lip breathing while toning your muscles. You may order the 30 minute program for $15 (and
also three elastic resistance exercise bands for $15) plus shipping charges. For more information, call 1-503-502- 2294 or visit www.onwardproductions.com.
George Ringer of Delphi, Indiana, recommends listening to Dr. Frank Adams on XM Channel 81 on Tuesday mornings from 6 am to 8 am. Dr. Adams, a not- ed pulmonologist, answers your questions about lung health. Adams is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. He is the author of The Asthma Sourcebook and an official surgeon for the New York Police Department. Call 1-877- 698-3627 during the program to get answers from Dr. Adams!
Regina Brett, a writer from Cleveland, Ohio, wrote a list of 50 lessons that life has taught her. Here are a few from her website, www.reginabrett.com.
When in doubt, just take the next small step. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Always choose life.
Forgive everyone everything.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. Yield.
Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Jackson Prentice of Arlington, Virginia, found a unique way to learn tips on living with COPD.
While he plays solitaire at http://tinyurl.com/6ghjjcd,
he checks facts on how to improve his life!
Call Your Elected Officials!
Competitive Bidding Is Not a Good Choice for a Person with Respiratory Problems
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, better known as Medicare) is feeling pressure from Congress about the growing problems with competitive bidding (also known as suicide bidding!). Competitive bidding eliminates competition and limits the patients’ choice of providers and equipment. Service from companies chosen by the government is very limited and you might need many different providers for multiple pieces of equip- ment: one company for your oxygen, another for your CPAP and another to obtain a wheelchair. Most bid winners did not win all categories of bids.
We have heard from people that live in areas where competitive bidding is already in place. An oxygen user was asked, because of the price of gas, would he mind coming to their office and picking up his own supplies? They have also put a limit on the number of portable tanks they will allow him to have.
If you live in an area where competitive bidding is in effect (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Charlotte, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Riverside, CA) and would like to tell others about your experience with the program, call the COPD Foundation’s Information Line at 1-866-316-2673 Monday through Friday 9 am until 9 pm EST. They are collecting feedback for lawmakers.
To address the problem, Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Jason Altmire (D-PA) have introduced the Fairness in Medicare Bidding Act (H.R.1041), bipartisan legislation that will end the Medicare “compet- itive” bidding program for home medical equipment and services because the program is fatally flawed. As we went to print, the legislation has 96 cosponsors in the House, but much more support is needed.
To let your elected officials know competitive bidding is not a good choice for a person with respiratory prob- lems, call 1-202-224-3121 and tell the switchboard operator your zip code to be connected to your House Representative. Ask that he or she cosponsor H.R. 1041.