This may not be directly affecting the disabled community (yet) but I thought it deserved mentioning. In this day of identification thievery and our information scattered from here to Timbuktu, we are now faced with having medical information implanted under our skin for the medical industry to "accurately and reliably access necessary vital information". I'm not buying that rational when compared to my information being readily available to insurance companies, possibly before an employment opportunity. Wouldn't it make sense (correct me if I'm wrong) that the very first individual REQUIRED to have these EHR implants would be the disabled, seniors, and the poor. All of which receive federal medical aid.

Oops, did I leave the cat out of the bag. Yes folks we are talking about Electronic Health Records. These little implants are placed under your skin to allow anyone (doctors, pharmaceuticals, insurance companies) to access your info. This info would be available on computer software.

Here is more info for you to read:

Background information on EHR
http://www.hoise.com/vmw/07/articles/vmw/LV-VM-06-07-5.html

Current plans
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/87290.php

Hi folks, I've been away for a bit but all is well now and I'm ready to talk about disability news. One of the most frustrating elements that goes along with being disabled, is the helplessness of being financially dependent on the government for your income. The possibility for you to work, receive SSDI, and Medicare is real. I'm not 100% on the formula they use to determine how much of your earnings will be deducted from your SSDI payment (don't worry I'm going to investigate this further). I believe it's @ $500 per month can be earned w/o a reduction in benefits.
Our ability to work outside the home may also be hindered, so home based businesses tend to look more favorable. The article I have included is a good starting point to the subject of working from home.

A Real Home Based Business

A real home based Internet business has to comply with the same legal regulations as an Internet business from any other location. Here are the basic legal issues with which a real home based Internet business owner must be familiar.

The first issue and a real concern for any home based Internet business is the restriction based on age. The regulations spelled out in COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and requires that children under the age of 13 cannot disclose their personal information unless a parent consents to it. Children under the age of 18 cannot be allowed to view adult content on the Internet, nor can they enter into any contract.

Real time occurrences on the Web, such as chats, must be controlled by the home based Internet business owner. Bulletin boards would have the same control issues. The rules of using each should solicit and retain the consent of each online user to refrain from posting pornography, defamatory material or anything that infringes on others' rights. Your company should also clearly state on its site that you are not liable for other users that commit to following your policies and guidelines but subsequently violating them.

To make real your ownership of all property and content on your home based business Internet site you'll need a copyright notice on the site's footer. The notice should have the date and your name and the statement. All rights reserved. A real copy of your home based business Internet site should be field with the U.S. copyright office. This will effectively record ownership of the contents of the site, as well as its look and its feel.

Your site's domain name is an important part of the branding and marketing for your Internet business. It is best to tie that domain name as closely as possible to your logo, your brand and your business name. Carefully choose a domain name that clearly conveys the products or services of your real home based Internet business. Register your domain name as a trademark and you can retain ownership should it be challenged by another business.

If your site is on the World Wide Web then you must comply with export regulations. If you sell goods over the Internet to these global consumers then you are exporting items for sale and entering into international countries. If your site is encrypted then you are exporting to other countries U.S. Department of Commerce and Defense technology. There are many U.S. federal agencies that have regulations in force for doing business with other countries, and the times and circumstances that require a firm to get an export license to send information, technology or goods abroad.

There are countries with whom business transactions are limited severely for U.S. firms. These countries are Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria and Yugoslavia. The best decision about the real problems you might encounter for your home based Internet business doing business with these countries and/ or its residents should be made with your attorney.

Article Source: http://www.disabilityarticles.com

Thomas Syvertsen is an Internet Marketer. Involved with network marketing and marketing since 2000. Education: Bachelor Degree in Marketing. To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: homebizstartup.googlepages.com

http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com


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Cuts proposed in Medicare and Medicaid

I am by no means a number cruncher nor am I someone that can help determine the best course of action on money dilemmas. Here comes the BUT. But I do know that the President is proposing cuts in Medicare and Medicaid over the next 5 years.

Snippet:
The $701 billion budget (for health and human services) that Bush sent to Congress today includes $66 billion in cuts over five years from Medicare, which provides health insurance for 43 million Americans. Bush also would cut $12 billion from Medicaid for the poor and from a program that provides health insurance for low-income children.

I'm also not an advocate of universal health care. On that subject, I {believe} that most everyone is covered by a level of health care if they choose to apply. The uninsured in the middle class maybe the only exceptions to this. Now before everyone starts taking pot shots at yours truly, I'm disabled and required to depend on Uncle Sam for my health care (it's not an enjoyable feeling). The subject of universal health care is a whole discussion in itself, and one I won't get into now.

Back to budget cuts. I have tried to give President Bush every inch of rope necessary to prove the need to be in Iraq (and spend huge amounts of our tax dollars), BUT now with the notion of cutting services to the disabled, seniors and children for their health care needs, enough is enough. Here's the rest of the story. Feel free to write your Congreesman and let them know how you feel.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070205/pl_bloomberg/a7z5efc4yvos

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I found this article to be interesting (and somewhat of a relief). Let's hope that not only the money will be there for future generations which find the need to be on Medicaid. Let's also hope that people use good judgement when exploring the possibility of seeking federal aid, as it pertains to SSDI, Medicare, & Medicaid. Save it for those in need. Here is a snipet of the article. A link to the complete article follows.

Dated Feb 23, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC – "As Congress prepares to debate the President’s budget and looks ahead to address the growing federal deficit and the future sustainability of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, a new study of future funding requirements for Medicaid by the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) projects a less dire situation than suggested by conventional wisdom. The study, authored by Richard Kronick of the University of California, San Diego and David Rousseau of KCMU and published by the journal Health Affairs today, concludes that expected growth in government revenues is likely to be large enough to sustain Medicaid spending increases over the next 40 years, while also allowing substantial real growth in spending for other public services".

http://www.kff.org/medicaid/kcmu022307nr.cfm?RenderForPrint=1


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In addtion to my web site that contains information pertainent to disability, there is also a forum and NOW a chat area. Please feel free to stop by and post.

http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com



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Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)

The mission of the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is to increase the use of technology by children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations.

The ATA is a growing national network of technology resource centers, organizations, individuals and companies. ATA encourages and facilitates the empowerment of people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities.

Through public education, information and referral, capacity building in community organizations, and advocacy/policy efforts, the ATA enables millions of people to live, learn, work, define their futures, and achieve their dreams.

“ATA … connecting children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations to technology.”

Check out their services here: http://www.ataccess.org/default.html

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Here is a contact list of pharmaceutical companies that have programs to assist the elderly and the disabled with prescription drugs. These companies offer discount cards. Call and ask for information but make sure you understand how participating in one of these programs will affect other prescription assistance programs you are enrolled in.

* GlaxoSmithKline's The Orange Card: (888) 672-6436

* Eli Lilly's LillyAnswers Card: (877) 795-4559

* Novartis' The CareCard: (866) 974-2273

* Pfizer's The Share Card: (800) 459-4156

* Abbott Laboratories
AstraZeneca
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
GlaxoSmithKline
Janssen
Johnson & Johnson
Ortho-McNeil's TogetherRx Card:
(800) 865-7211 (to contact the companies listed above in bold font)

Check my web site for more prescription medicine programs


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Continuing on with the topic of government disability programs. I suggest you search GovBenefits.gov. They'll have you answer a questionaire (no personal questions are asked), at the end of the questionaire it will show you what programs that you may qualify for and links to those sites.

Their mission statement: "GovBenefits.gov helps citizens access government benefit eligibility information through a free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool. After answering some basic questions, the user receives a customized report listing the benefit programs for which the user, or person for whom he or she is entering information, may be eligible".

GovBenefits.gov website
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal

For disability benefits for each state of the union, I suggest the following site:
http://www.nichcy.org/states.htm


Please remember to visit my web site. You'll find information on prescription medicine programs, impairment sites, financial aid, and a web FORUM.



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Disability Help is available

The disABLED have many needs which challenge their lives. People with disabilities can face financial needs as well as struggling with prescription medicine costs. There is help available. SSI disability benefit, assistive technology devices, and special homeowner funding are all benefits which are available to the disABLED.

I created this blog in hopes of helping those with disabilities to locate needed benefits to enhance their lives.

I'd like to start with the availablity of government benefits.

To be covered by governmental disability benefits (referred to as SSDI) you must have worked at jobs which are covered by social security. There is a point system which calculates the amount of time you worked, to enable you to receive this benefit.

Government web page: http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm

The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Government web page: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/determination.htm

Disability starter kits are available from the government. These kits contain the fact sheet "What You Should Know before You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits". It also contains a checklist of information and documents to have ready for your disability interview.

Government web page: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits_adult_eng.htm

I plan to continue to add to this blog as I aquire new information, but I also have a web site located at: http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com
My site contains topics such as government benefits, rights, home modifications ideas, assistive technology, prescription med help, and much more. There is also a disability FORUM.