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CHAPTER MEMBERS BE ALERT

The chapter has received information that some members are receiving phone calls , text ,social media and other forms of contact from fraudulent people trying to obtain information to update Social Security and Medicare information. Please be vigilant and don’t provide any information.

NOTE FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has encountered a wide variety of scams in which fraudsters use technology to impersonate official government personnel from HHS or OIG. These scammers target individuals through various methods, including phone, email, or social media in an attempt to obtain personal, medical, or financial information. Scammers may claim they need information to verify medical claims . Once these criminals have your personal information, they will use it to steal money from you or commit fraud.
The public should remain vigilant for such scams. OIG cautions the public against sending money or sharing personal, medical, or financial information with unknown individuals who claim to be government officials. If you believe you have been the target or victim of a scam in which someone impersonated HHS or HHS OIG officials, please report this contact to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online.

New Pass Office Location

We have been informed that the New York City Employee Pass Office located at 180 Livingston Street will be relocating. The pass office will be closed Feb. 16 and will re-open at its new location on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2024 @ 8:30am.

New York City Employee Pass Office
149 Pierrepont Street,
3rd FL Room 3202
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

Marlex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg and Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg Due to Label Mix-Up
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 30, 2023 – New Castle, Delaware, Marlex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg and one lot of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg to the consumer level due to Label Mix-Up. Bottles of Digoxin Tablets, USP 0.125mg s are incorrectly labeled and contain Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg Tablets. Bottles of Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg are incorrectly labeled and contain Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg.

Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg are yellow, circular, beveled, uncoated tablets scored between "N" and "201" on one side and plain on the other side.

Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.25mg are white to off-white, circular. beveled, uncoated tablets scored between "N" and "202" on one side and plain on the other side.

Risk Statement: The mix-up in labels can cause either overdosing or underdosing in patients who unknowingly take the wrong dose. Patients who intend to take Digoxin Tablets USP, 0.125mg, but unknowingly Digoxin 0.25mg would receive a super potent dose and can experience significant drug toxicity (mental disorientation, dizziness, blurred vision, memory loss and fainting) from the unintentional overdose.

If you have been exposed to a toxic substance during your military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits, even if you have been turned down in the past. Apply by August 9, 2023, to possibly have your benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, if approved.

Join VA and representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) for a live broadcast on Facebook, August 2 at 3:30 p.m. EDT, to learn about the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The law adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances, helping VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

Company recalling blood pressure pills because of impurity
present

Lupin Pharmaceuticals issued a voluntary recall of some blood pressure medication due to the potential presence of a nitrosamine impurity, according to a notice published on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website.

The recall, issued last week, includes one batch of 20-milligram Quinapril Tablets USP— G102929 — and three batches of 40-milligram Quinapril Tablets USP – G100533, G100534 and G203071, the notice said.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals said, during recent testing, the presence of N-Nitroso-Quinapril had been "observed" at a level "above the acceptable daily intake (ADI) level."

People taking 20-milligram or 40-milligram Quinapril Tablets USP should continue taking their medication and consult their medical providers for an alternate treatment, Lupin Pharmaceuticals said

COBRA coverage effective August 1st. Is
WEXHEALTH
Customer Svc :
1-866-451-3399
7am to 9pm

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

To help Retirees Stay Up to date with the COVID Pandemic Aetna has Extra Benefits to Help

Aetna Pre-65 Retirees and Medicare Advantage members received:
Postcard communications on helpful resources.
Outreach calls were made by nurses to those most at risk and to those who were engaged in case management
Caring for you kits mailed in October to all Aetna Medicare Advantage members only that included, masks, hand sanitizer, cough drops and much more
CPPO Basic retirees with Medicare A & B as their primary coverage can access COVID information by calling the Aetna Concierge at 1-855-824-5349

 Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement

Each year the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates are adjusted according to the Social Security Act. For 2021, the Medicare Part B monthly premiums and the annual deductible are higher than the 2020 amounts. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $148.50 for 2021, an increase of $3.90 from $144.60 in 2020.

"Retirees Taking Care of Retirees"

Subject: Benefits Planner: Retirement | Benefits For Your Family

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html#h2

We know this year has been a difficult one. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all in ways we could have never imagined. We’ve had to adjust as well as we can to meet the needs of our families, friends and coworkers — while still checking in on our own health and wellness needs.
As your health partner, we’re committed to keeping you up to date on the latest vaccine news, including when and how you and your family can get the vaccine.
What we know today
While it's not yet certain when all vaccinations will begin and how they will be handled in different states, rest assured that there will be no cost to Aetna® members to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
We expect that vaccine distribution will occur in phases, beginning with high-risk health workers, first responders and older adults living in long-term care facilities. It is expected to take many months to vaccinate the entire U.S. population.
What we're doing to get ready
As you know, Aetna is part of the CVS Health® family. CVS Health was one of the companies chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to play a key role in COVID-19 vaccine administration.
All of the nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy ® stores nationwide are being readied to administer COVID-19 vaccines, including training our health care professionals and securing all needed equipment to handle and store the vaccines. We will work with CVS Pharmacy stores and other vaccine administrators to offer you safe and timely access to vaccines.
Lastly, for as long as it’s needed, COVID-19 testing will continue to be available from many network providers, including MinuteClinic ® locations at CVS Pharmacy stores. To date, CVS Health has administered millions of COVID-19 tests.
Preparing you for what's next
This will be the first of many communications you’ll receive about the COVID-19 vaccine. As we get ready to roll out this vaccine, we will make sure to keep you informed of the latest news. Most importantly, we want to make sure that you feel safe and stay healthy during this very pivotal time.
If you would like more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and testing, visit this site.
In good health,
Aetna, a CVS Health company

2021 0129 Benes Medicare Document

On December 23, Congress passed several key provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477) as part of a comprehensive legislative package. Signed into law days later, these policies will update Medicare enrollment rules for the first time in over 50 years to end lengthy waits for coverage, expand critical administrative flexibilities, and inform future policymaking on enrollment period alignment.
The bipartisan BENES Act was introduced in the 116th Congress by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Todd Young (R-IN) and by Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Jackie Walorski (R-IN).
In applauding passage, Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi issued the following statement:
"Thanks to the BENES Act’s congressional champions—Senators Casey and Young and Representatives Ruiz, Bilirakis, Schneider, and Walorski—as well as House and Senate leadership, the committees of jurisdiction, and dedicated congressional staffers, millions of Americans will be able to avoid enrollment pitfalls of the current system and more easily connect with their earned Medicare benefits. We are profoundly grateful to our pro bono partners at King & Spalding, along with the bill’s many stakeholders and supporters, for their efforts to advance these lasting and vital Medicare improvements."
The adopted BENES Act policies will modernize Medicare enrollment in several important ways:
The bill eliminates the up to seven month-long wait for coverage that people can experience when they sign up for Medicare during the General Enrollment Period (GEP) or in the later months of their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Beginning in 2023, Medicare coverage will begin the month after enrollment.
It reduces barriers to care by expanding Medicare’s authority to grant a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for "exceptional circumstances." A long-standing flexibility within Medicare Advantage and Part D, in 2023 this critical tool will be available to facilitate enrollments program-wide, enhancing beneficiary access and administrative consistency.
To further maximize coverage continuity and ease transitions to Medicare, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify ways to align Medicare’s annual enrollment periods. HHS is to present these findings in a report to Congress by January 1, 2023.
In addition to these changes, the wide-ranging legislation funds the federal government through the end of the current fiscal year, provides some COVID-19 relief, and renews important health care policies for three years. The extensions include funding for community-based organizations that provide outreach and enrollment to low-income Medicare beneficiaries, financial protections for people whose spouses are on Medicaid and in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person program, which supports individuals who wish to leave nursing facilities and return to their homes. Medicare Rights supports investment in these and other initiatives that help older adults and people with disabilities live with health and dignity. We look forward to further advancing these goals in 2021.

Recall alert for certain Philips medical devices

Philips recently issued a product recall for specific ventilators and sleep apnea devices.
If you own or rent one of the Philips products that was recalled, talk to your doctor as soon as possible about whether to continue using your recalled equipment.
More Info
If you would like to replace or repair your equipment, the supplier you bought the equipment from is responsible for replacing or repairing rental equipment at no cost to you when the equipment is less than 5 years old. If the equipment is more than 5 years old, Medicare will help pay for a replacement.
Important: Register your recalled equipment with Philips so they know you need a replacement, and can provide information on the next steps for a permanent corrective solution.
To register your equipment:
• Visit philips.com/src-update, or
• Call 1-877-907-7508
Sincerely,
The Medicare Team
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