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Show Friday, June 18, EUREKA REPORTER 2004 Is fraud in the cards for StUlfflM Don't-fie- t seniors on Medicare? this summer NAP- S- Millions of Medicare ' beneficiaries can now enroll in the new Medicare discount drug card program However, as mailboxes fill with drug card information, some Medicare beneficiaries, especially seniors, may find themselves at risk for drug card fraud by organizations claiming to be Medicare-approve"Older people have caught the attention of professional who fleece the elderly for a living," says Tom former senior investigator for the New York a Cassidy, State Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the author of "Elder Care, What To Look For, What to Nile Virus has begun its sixth season in less against mosquitoes, because the pests the United States, and health officials pre- are attracted to carbon dioxide in breath dict a worse outbreak than last year. and not ultraviolet light. Retail products According to the Centers for Disease that use propane to get rid of mosquitoes Control, over 9,100 cases of the illness were are also not all they claim to be. Machines such as the Mosquito Magnet and reported nationwide last year and 246 peo- d. con-artis- ts Mosquito Delete eliminate some mosquitoes, but PHD Entomologists tests cannot Look Out For.' "However," said Cassidy, "consumers armed with the has already been reported in 14 states, and prove that the machines reduce mosquito information about the new Medicare program can season has started. right populations. mosquito just In numerous field tests, the only product avoid being taken for a ride." diseases also kill thouMosquito-born- e sands of birds, horses and zoo wildlife each that consistently outperforms According to a recent report from the U.S. General every year. Mosquitoes not only affect homeown- machine and product on the market is the Accounting Office (GAO), the number of organizations sellArctic Mosquito Killing System (MKS). It is ing fraudulent health care benefits has doubled, over the ers, but also businesses. last two years. thie result of 17 years of research and testGolf courses, resorts, ballparks, swimming frustechnical Bimilar often and was and have with Cassidy says that older consumers and those who care pools developed ing, operations trated employees and customers during peak assistance from NASA. This proven cuttin- for them, can easily identify which cards are legitimate technology is not available in and which are fraudulent using a few simple tips: mosquito activity. Warehouses and trucking g-edge Know your options:. The Centers for Medicare and terminals, even a government post office, stores. Medicaid Services (CMS) Btates that only 36 organizations The MKS reduces the mosquito populawere nearly shut down by the Occupational e area without pesticides and 43 Medicaid Advantage plans, including major health Safely and Health Administration because of tion in a or chemicals. It is Underwriters Laboratory insurers and pharmacy benefit managers are Medicare-approvemosquito problems. Employers and employees should be (UL) Listed, safe, quiet and odorless. It Look for the Logo: All legitimate Medicare-approve- d aware of the following regulation. The does not use a flame or propane tank, cards and because be and can Act are Health carry a "Medicare Approved" logo in the lower right Occupational Safety dangerous they hazard-specifi- c corner. Consumers should look for the logo and not accept ineffective. to with requires employers comply card without it. machines Unlike available standards. In the and health in stores, any safety "Endorsed" is not approved: Official cards in the addition, pursuant to Section 5(aXl), the MKS has seven unique features. One, it General Duty Clause of the Act, employers' uses electricity because propane cannot Medicare program are only referred to as "Medicare-approvedBe suspicious of cards that are Medicare-endorsemust provide their employees with a work- produce proper airflow or heat Two, scienMedicare-produced or Medicare-provideplace free from recognized hazards likely to tific measurements are applied for the heat and on fraud cause death or serious physical harm. source, mimicking body temperatures of Hang up keep the door closed. Medicare-approve- d sell will never or over the d for controlled mammals. plans Three, violating the Employers can be cited tactics to sell and measured releases of carbon dioxide phone and they will never use General Duty Clause if there is a recognized hazard and they do not take reason- cycle every several minutes simulating a card. Isolation can lead to exploration: Elderly consumers able steps to prevent or abate the hazard." breathing patterns of humans and aniwho live alone are often the targets of fraud schemes. It is The CDC admits that community spray- mals. Four, an energy-savin- g photocell for family members to keep in touch with eldermosquito-breedin- g off dusk dawn. turns on of at the and at unit and important draining ing poinds is not enough to control the spread of Five, mosquitoes detect no air turbulence, ly relatives and friends and help them avoid the risk of the disease. Citronella candles and insecti- but are vacuumed in. Six, the machine is fraud. For more information on the new Medicare discount and maintenance-fre- e. cide fbggers ars also not sufficient safeSeven, card consumers can texture. visit drug program, guards. Repellants containing DEET can the unit's surface simulates skin MEDICARE. call or (800)do as MKS The several not reduce times be dangerous and www.medicare.gov, captures mosquito many mosquitoes than any other machine populations. DEET is a synthetic chemical that can or product, greatly reducing female mosOne ought, every day, to Adversity has the effect cause neurological damage in humans, pax-- . quito populations. The female, not the fine of hear a read a song, eliciting talents, which in ticularly in children. Up to 56 percent of male, feeds on blood from animals, people to if possible, prosperous circumstances topically applied DEET penetrates the and birds. They also lay an average of 300 poem, and, few would have lain dormant reasonable a speak skin, and 17 percent is. absorbed into the eggs. So, for every 1,000 mosquitoes elimiwords.-Goe- the bloodstream. Reactions include headache, nated the mosquito population is actually reduced by 300,000. disorientation, agitation, seizure, anaphyNow is the time to start killing mosquilaxis and coma. Research shows that DEET does not toes. It is much easier to reclaim a backalways fend off all mosquito species, and it yard, garden, patio and deck when a sysn infestashould only be applied to clothing or tem is in place before a occurs. have Families can now safer tion The under never clothing. exposed skin, American Association of Pediatrics issued a and more enjoyable summers. For more information about the MKS, warning that DEET solutions over 10 peror visit cent concentration should not be used on call any children, and as little repellent as posOSHA For sible should be used. Infants and pregnant information, . visit 872 N. Main women should not use it at all. httpyAmw.osha.govMWshibWesfieViru RANDY BRAILSFORD Spanish Fork Bug zappers and similar devices are use Manager ple died. So far this year, West Nile virus activity . one-acr- d. ." d, d. door-to-do- warm-bloode- or high-pressu- re self-cleani- ng full-blow- 573-896-85- 33 www.mosqui-tokUlingsystem.n- et s8-29-03.ht- 801-794-00- 77 |
