The 1.1 million Washingtonians who currently don’t have health insurance will be required to get on a plan starting Jan. 1, 2014. Those who don’t (with few exceptions provided by the law) will be fined. The penalty will be collected when taxes are filed the following April.
The potential good news for about a third of those residents is that they would qualify for Medicaid, thanks to an expansion of the program. And a big portion of the rest will qualify for some subsidies as long as they enroll through the state health insurance exchange.
According to the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s Office, the numbers of uninsured Washingtonians will have grown from about 12 percent of the state population in 2004 to an estimated 16 percent by the end of this year. The majority — a total of 805,400 — are expected to qualify either for Medicaid or subsidized plans. read more »
Soroptimists International of Greater North Kitsap recently presented a second donation check for $ 1,000 to support Peninsula Cancer Center’s Survive and Thrive program. Survive and Thrive is a health and fitness program for women with a history of cancer, with a goal of improved fitness and/or weight loss.
The donation will be earmarked to pay for athletic trainers, a nutritionist and life coaches to support women during the healing process from cancer.
Soroptimists International of Greater North Kitsap has been sponsoring Bras for a Cause for the past six years and added the Baubles, Boots and Bags event for the first time in November 2012 to raise funds for donations to local service organizations and programs with a mission of helping women and children. read more »
Washington voters will likely have a say this fall on whether or not genetically modified foods sold in the state should be labeled as such.
I-522, “The People’s Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act,” would require foods produced with genetic engineering (or containing GMOs) to carry visible labels, with some exceptions. Secretary of State Kim Wyman certified the petition — one of two petitions to the Legislature this year — in early February. Lawmakers had the choice of passing it as is, sending it to the ballot along with their own alternative so voters could choose one, or taking no action. The Legislature held hearings but chose not to act, which means the next step for supporters is to send the measure to the ballot for a public vote in November.
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are seeds, plants, animals, fish as well as micro-organisms whose genetic material, or DNA, has been altered artificially. read more »
A Leadership Kitsap team, working in partnership with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, has developed a permanent drug disposal program for unused prescription medications.
Permanent receptacles for disposing of unused medications will soon be installed in the lobbies of sheriff’s offices in Central and South Kitsap.
Previously, drug take-back events were conducted under the auspices of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration on a designated weekend day, usually twice per year. This initiative will permit county residents to dispose of prescription medications on any weekday during sheriff’s office business hours. read more »
This spring when you go outdoors to enjoy the long-awaited colors and blooms, don’t forget the sounds of the season in your lovely garden or wood. Who doesn’t smile when the hummingbird hums its way to the feeder?
For me personally, my spring starts when I finally hear the haunting song of the Swainson’s thrush in the trees around our house. When people think of spring, landscapes usually come to mind — but hearing the soundscape is equally as important for a sense of wellbeing. Awareness of the sounds around us outdoors was once needed for our very survival. While this may not be as important as it once was, hearing the world around us well allows us to safely navigate our surroundings. read more »
A new initiative to reduce “unnecessary” emergency room visits by Medicaid patients is expected to save Washington state about $31 million this fiscal year. A preliminary report that looked at the first six months since the “ER is for Emergencies” program was implemented last year estimated a 23 percent reduction in ER visits by Medicaid patients who had five or more visits. read more »
As Washington state figures out how to regulate production and retail sales of legalized marijuana along the lines of the former state-run system of liquor stores, providers and patients in the medical marijuana community prefer to remain insulated from I-502’s rules, licenses and taxes.
“I just want the ability that patients can still grow their own meds,” says a 50-year-old known as “Doc” at the Herbal Healing dispensary he helps operate in Gorst. read more »
A six-week class in “Mindfulness Meditation for Health and Well-Being” will be offered starting Jan. 10 by Susan Sweetwater, a counselor in private practice in Silverdale.
The meditation classes will be on Thursday evenings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 700 Callahan Drive in Bremerton. Meditation can help bring calm and clarity to the pressures of daily life, and help to reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve focus and concentration, enhance immune function and increase compassion for self and others. The fee for the class is $150.
For more information, contact Sweetwater at sasweetwater [at] gmail [dot] com or 360-616-1491. In her counseling practice, she specializes in psychotherapy, art therapy and mindfulness with adults and adolescents.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange received conditional approval of its state-based exchange blueprint from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in December. The blueprint outlines how the exchange will be ready to operate Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace, starting Oct. 1, 2013.
To receive conditional approval, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange was required to demonstrate significant progress but can take additional time to complete one or more of the approval requirements, which range from operational to legal activities needed to support the exchange. An agreement was also developed that outlines the timeline for expected milestones and regular progress reviews to ensure all remaining requirements are met. read more »
