Don’t be fooled by a scheme involving genetic testing

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about a fraud.

Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary and/or was not ordered by a Medicare beneficiary’s treating physician.

Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries “free” screenings or cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits.

Beneficiaries who agree to genetic testing or verify personal or Medicare information may receive a cheek swab, an in-person screening or a testing kit in the mail, even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.

If Medicare denies the claim, the beneficiary could be responsible for the entire cost of the test, which could be thousands of dollars.

Protect Yourself

If a genetic testing kit is mailed to you, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.

Be suspicious of anyone who offers you “free” genetic testing and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.

A physician that you know and trust should assess your condition and approve any requests for genetic testing.

Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the HHS OIG Hotline.

Spending time with pets provides benefits for older adults

Taking a motorcycle ride with your pet can relieve stress.

Social isolation is becoming an increasingly common issue, with one in five Americans reporting they feel lonely. Seniors are especially vulnerable to these feelings. In fact, 43 percent say they experience loneliness regularly. A new survey of adults age 65 and older by Home Instead, Inc. found regular interaction with animals can help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“While we recognize that pet ownership isn’t for everyone, we find that interaction with pets, even on a small scale, can have a big impact on older adults,” said Joe Malagon, senior care expert and owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Thousand Oaks. “A simple act like petting a dog, holding a cat or watching a bird can bring so much joy to a senior who may be feeling lonely.”

Additional survey results found that nearly half of older pet owners cited stress relief, sense of purpose and exercise as leading advantages to owning a pet. In addition to providing positive health benefits, pets can also provide constant companionship for older adults who would prefer to age in place. In fact, 82 percent of senior animal owners surveyed said they would not consider moving to a senior living community without their pet.

These findings are not a surprise to Steve Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), a nonprofit research and education organization. “There is a strong connection between heart health and pet ownership or interaction,” Feldman said. “Pet owners are more likely to get recommended levels of exercise, have lower blood pressure and experience reduced levels of stress. Pets have even been shown to aid in recovery after a heart attack.”

While there are many benefits to owning a pet later in life, Home Instead also found that even occasional interactions with pets prove to be beneficial for older adults. Survey results indicate that older adults achieve the same positive feelings when spending time with animals in other capacities, such as visiting with pets owned by family, friends or neighbors.

Elisabeth Van Every, communications and outreach coordinator for Pet Partners, a nonprofit North American therapy animal organization agrees. “Research also shows animal interaction can help perceptions of pain and discomfort and improve motivation for treatment protocols for diseases such as cancer by helping individuals feel more focused and positive moving forward,” said Van Every. “Even interactions for half an hour a week can make a difference.”

No end to summer heat (now that it has started)

“Water helps but maybe I should be in a cool place.”

Senior News Line
by Matilda Charles

No end to summer heat (now that it has started)

Summer heat … although the days are getting shorter, it’s just not ending. As seniors, we need to beware the impact that heat can have on us, especially on our hearts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of ways to avoid heat-related illnesses, broken down into three sections: stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed.

Staying cool means staying inside in air conditioning or going to a library or mall. Take a cool shower. If you must go out, take it easy and stay out of the midday sun.

Staying hydrated can be tricky if we’re on certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics. Drink water before you go out but ask your doctor just how much is safe. Avoid cold, sugary drinks, and don’t try sports drinks unless your doctor okay’s it.

Staying informed involves checking the weather so you’ll know in advance what to expect. Investigate apps for your phone or bookmark a few weather websites.

My favorite weather website for the computer is Wunderground.com. Put in your ZIP code or town, and it shows you a graphic of either that day’s weather or the weather for the next 10 days. The fact I check most in summer is humidity levels, because that adds to how hot the heat feels. It’s also great for winter when I can check the arrival of snow and determine if I should go to the grocery store today or tomorrow.

When it comes to apps for your phone or tablet, the choices are many. Download four or five free ones and play with them for a week. See which ones you like best and delete the rest.

Eventually summer will be over and we’ll be thinking about storms and snow (well, not in Ventura). But for now, we need to be safe in the heat.

(c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

Vol. 12, No. 25 – Sept 11 – Sept 24, 2019 – Movie Review

Movie Review by Cindy Summers
Angel Has Fallen
2 palm trees out of 4

After a drone attack during a fishing trip that takes out his whole team, Secret Service Agent Mike Banning is accused of being the mastermind behind the assasination attempt on President Allan Trumbull, and sets out to clear his name while trying to protect president from the real danger that exists which is actually being carried out by those closest to him who he trusts and would never assume were involved. Released by Lionsgate, Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Written by Katrin Benedikt, Robert Mark Kamen, Creighton Rothenberger and staring Gerard Butler as Mike Banning and Morgan Freeman as Allan Trumbull.

In “Angel Has Fallen” the saga continues with Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) serving as the most trusted secret service agent to now U.S. President Alan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) who is targeted by drones on a fishing trip resulting in only the two of them surviving the attack. Banning wakes up handcuffed to his hospital bed with his only concern being the safety of the president and learns that his DNA evidence was found at the scene and he’s the prime suspect in the drone attack.

After being arrested for the attempted assassination of the president, Banning’s convoy is attacked and he’s kidnapped by masked men who he overcomes and discover work for his military buddy and mercenary business owner Wade Jennings (Danny Huston). Jennings and his men also carried out the original attack on the president under the secret direction of Vice President Kirby (Tim Blake Nelson).

With the whole world thinking he’s guilty, and on the run able to trust no one, Banning elicits the assistance of his estranged father Clay Banning (Nick Nolte), who he finds in the woods having gone off the grid believing in government conspriacies after serving in the military when he was younger. Clay ends up having some unexpected clever resources to help his son Mike clear is name and save his family.

This film is the third in the franchise staring Butler and Freeman (who previously played the role of vice president), the first being “Olympus Has Fallen” released in 2013 and “London Has Fallen” in 2016 which received poors reviews both from the public and critics, some of which called the film “effortlessly racist” and “ugly, reactionary fear-mongering.”

“Angel Has Fallen” is more like a grown up version of Spiderman 3 without the costumes but the same hero becoming the hunted with very predictable storylines and character personas. The movie has the usual unbelievable millions of bullets fired at the hero who’s only minorly injured, the great friend actually being a lying, ruthless enemy behind the scenes, no suspense as to whether or not the hero would prevail and outside Nick Nolte’s great comedic relief found this action adventure to fall flat.

Rated R 114m

Vol. 12, No. 25 – Sept 11 – Sept 24, 2019 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine
Romantic drama explores grief

The current production at the Elite Theatre in Oxnard’s Channel Islands is a study in how grief affects us each in different ways. To Gillian, on Her 37th Birthday, by Michael Brady explores ways in which a widower is coping (or not), to the frustration of his family and friends.

To Gillian is a timeless play. At some time, all of us will be faced with the loss of a loved one. Psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross outlined the five stages of grief that everyone encounters – the multiple facets of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Not everyone experiences the stages in the same order. Some get stuck in one stage for a while before allowing themselves to move forward.

This appears to be what happened to David (Bill Walthall), who lost his beloved Gillian (Alyssa Carmen) in a boating mishap a few years before. He is unable to fully accept her death and spends much of his time having “conversations” with her. So much so, that he is oblivious to the needs of his teenaged daughter Rachel (Genesis Perez) and the teenaged infatuation of her friend Cindy (Sophia Fox). Gillian’s sister Esther (Jen Ridgway) and her husband Paul (Michael Adams) confront David, offering to have Rachel live with them until he faces reality. Paul and David have been friends for many years while Esther has been a thorn in David’s side.

Esther and Paul invite a young friend Kevin (Elisabeth Melcher) for a few days’ stay at David’s beach house in hopes he will see beyond his grief to a fresh relationship. Kevin was a student in one of David’s classes before the accident. Mutual attraction is acknowledged but David is fearful of letting go of Gillian’s memory.
As David copes with new feelings, he reaches out to Gillian’s spirit who encourages him to let her go. Tensions rise as the two teens feel unseen and unheard, the houseguest is put in an awkward situation and the in-laws put pressure on David to let go and move forward.

There are many moments of serenity, calm and reflection. There are also moments of anger, angst and confusion as each character copes with the reality of Gillian’s death and the need to continue living without her.

Bill Walthall, as the pivotal David, gives a solid performance laced with emotion. The ghost of Gillian as played by Alyssa Carmen provides a dose of practicality, sympathy and reality as she leads David toward the path of acceptance. Michael Adams as Paul injects playful humor into the situation, while Jen Ridgway as Esther counters with stern resolve.

This dramatic romantic effort is heartfelt throughout. Director Rolland Petrello has given relative newcomers an opportunity to take the stage next to seasoned actors, an ensemble that works well as a whole.

Certainly the theme and moments of reflection will strike different chords with audience members depending on their own circumstances in dealing with loss. The play reminds us to focus on the present and appreciate the people and life we are living rather than dwelling in our loss.

To Gillian on her 37th Birthday continues through September 15. Elite Theatre Playhouse, 2731 S. Victoria Ave, Oxnard. 805-483-5118 or www.theelite.org. $20 general admission, $17 seniors, students and military

Is Ventura open for business? An opinion.

by Venturans for Responsible & Efficient Gov’t

When the city needs money, they go to the old trope, “We’ll attract new business.” After all, Ventura is open for business, according to this Council. Actions speak louder than words, however. The recent incident with Seaward Sushi illustrates the confusion and shortsightedness in City Hall.

In June 2019, social media blew up over closing of 40-year old Seaward Sushi. After owner Rachel Woodward closed her doors June 14th, for the final time, her story spread on the internet. Based on what Rachel posted, it would have easy to jump to conclusions. One could conclude that Ventura’s permitting, and code enforcement’s strict policies and slow processing time were the villains in this situation.

After telling her story on social media, it got the attention of several people like Jim Friedman, Stephanie Caldwell at the Chamber and others at City Hall. While we don’t know all the facts, only after this story attracted attention on social media, the City of Ventura hastily arranged a meeting on June 24th.

In an interview with Rachel Woodward, she revealed that she kept meticulous notes. She has a complete phone and paper trail of all dates and times that someone spoke to her, and a list of appointments and promises broken from representatives from City Hall. Rachel felt she needed to keep these records. She got the impression that everyone at City Hall was “very defensive,” and nobody wanted to be “held responsible” for what had occurred before the June 24th meeting.

The city gave Rachel a temporary permit on June 24th to reopen on June 28th. Without the privilege of knowing what they discussed in that meeting, we do know that Ashley Batista, from the city helped to obtain a permit to reopen June 28th.

Rachel voluntarily agreed to a hearing on August 6th. At the August 6th hearing, there was zero opposition, and the city granted a permanent permit. She has been in business ever since. Business is still down, but it can only get better.

Rachel further felt that it was also apparent that few, if anyone, was in the community visiting businesses. And, when someone visited a company, there weren’t clear directions on how to streamline the process.

The story does not end here, in any case. If it took one meeting to find enough support to justify reopening, how did the original staff fail to reach a similar conclusion in the first place?

From this experience, Rachel learned a few things. She felt that before the June 24th meeting, nobody wanted to take ownership of the situation. It seemed to her that nobody in City Hall knew the specifics, and no one was clear on the process to follow.

If Ventura is open for business, maybe the city staff involved in the process did not get the memo. The city needs to do a post-mortem on the Seaward Sushi approval process to find ways to improve if they are going to claim to be open for business. We recommend changing the current approval process to one that requires two employees to examine and approve exceptions to ordinances or policies.

California Connections Academy Central Coast students log in for inaugural school year

California Connections Academy Central Coast, a tuition-free online public school serving students in grades TK-12 throughout the Central Coast, began its 2019-2020 school year on September 3rd. Students across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties logged on for the first day of school, joining thousands of students who have found success via the network of California Connections Academy’s high-quality online schools across the state.

As digital literacy and personalized academic programs continue to grow throughout the nation, families across California who meet state residency requirements continue to turn to California Connections Academy for an alternative education program suited to their student’s individual learning needs. The school offers a rigorous curriculum of innovative and diverse courses including foreign languages, digital technology and web design, as well as a variety of honors and Advanced Placement (AP)® courses for students interested in college-level curriculum. The school also provides Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) courses for grades 6-12 to help students prepare for college and careers.

“In Connections Academy’s 15-year school history in California, Connections Academy has helped students maximize their potential, and we’re looking forward to continuing this tradition in the Central Coast,” said Dr. Richard Savage, California Connections Academy Executive Director. “We’ve seen first-hand how various types of students can excel in this model, and it’s an honor to bring that opportunity to more California students.”

Parents across the California Connections Academy network are continually pleased with their students’ academic performance and overall experience, as reinforced by the 2019 Parent Satisfaction Survey.

California Connections Academy Central Coast will serve students in the region for the first time in the 2019-20 school year. The school offers a flexible learning environment for children with a dynamic schedule who learn at different pace from their peers or want a more individualized approach to learning. State-credentialed teachers work with students to excel academically while allowing them time to pursue their dreams and extracurricular interests.

Beyond curriculum and supportive teachers, the school offers numerous socialization opportunities for its students. During the school year, learning-focused field trips are held throughout California for students to enrich their education experience outside of the classroom and meet peers and teachers in-person. California students also have the opportunity to attend a Junior/Senior Prom in Southern California.

Additionally, the school offers chapters of National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society, as well as free online clubs and activities where students can collaborate with others interested in art, science, sports and more. Some of the clubs include Art Club, Gaming and Technology, Science Sleuths, and more.

For more information, visit the school’s website at https://www.connectionsacademy.com/california-online-school.

 

 

Ventura Water Reclamation Facility open house

On August 29, over 300 members of the public turned out to tour the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility to learn more about the proposed VenturaWaterPure project – a future water project that aims to diversify Ventura’s water supply by recovering, purifying, and reusing water that is  currently discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary.

The event hosted a mix of community members, City staff, water reuse professionals, and water agencies from Morro Bay, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, City of Oxnard, and Central Coast Blue – all sharing a common interest in efforts to pilot and implement potable reuse projects to improve the sustainability of vital water resources across California.

The night kicked off with Mayor Matt LaVere welcoming the community to the event.  “This treatment facility has supported our community for more than 60 years.  We want you to tour the facility to see first-hand the infrastructure and processes involved in treating wastewater to protect public health and the environment,” said Mayor LaVere.

Guests were broken up into groups and led through the treatment plant with tours ending at the site of the former VenturaWaterPure demonstration facility piloted in 2015-16. A short video was played showcasing the need for a resilient, long term water supply solution in Ventura accompanied by static displays of treatment technologies and experts were available to explain advanced purification technologies. Members of the MERITO foundation – a non-profit focused on watershed and ocean education for youth in Ventura, led bird watching tours for kids at the facility’s wildlife ponds. To cap off the night, guests were given an opportunity to taste bottled advanced purified water from Orange County’s Indirect Potable Reuse system and pose for photos.

“A new advanced water purification facility, VenturaWaterPure, would take the product water you will see today and treat it to its purest form, creating a new, locally owned supply that isn’t rainfall dependent,“ explained Mayor LaVere.

For more information on the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility and its role in protecting public health and the VenturaWaterPure project visit www.venturawater.net.