Tag: healthcare

COVID Vaccines Update

For those who are in Illinois and want to follow my example, please hurry up- things might change! See the Sun Times article below.

As doctors anticipate word from the federal government, many expect Illinois will promote vaccination for those left out under new restrictions, Elvia Malagón and Kaitlin Washburn report for the Chicago Sun-Times.

That could mean authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccines off-label, as they do in other states. Doctors already are authorized to give vaccines off-label.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the latest version of the vaccine but only for those 65 and older or people with a high-risk medical condition. The agency did not specify which medical conditions were eligible, but pharmacies offering the vaccine are relying on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of high-risk groups. That includes people who have asthma, are neurodivergent, live with disabilities or certain mental health conditions, smoke or are physically inactive.

It’s unclear, however, whether insurers will cover the costs over the long run for people who fall outside the FDA’s guidelines. For now, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, one of the state’s largest private insurance companies, hasn’t changed its coverage policy.

The Illinois Department of Public Health plans to issue its own guidance by the end of the month after reviewing recommendations from medical societies, experts and its own immunization advisory committee, according to Dr. Sameer Vohra, the agency’s director. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Vaccination

First, I was waiting for the updated COVID vaccine to arrive. My only COVID happened at that time of the year, when the previous vaccine was already worn off, and the new one hadn’t arrived yet. Since I also travel extensively at that time of the year, I always try to get a new shot as soon as it becomes available.

So, I was waiting for the updated vaccine. The same day it became available, the new CDC guidelines barred me from getting it. I tried to schedule on both CVS and Walgreens sites, and both times got: Sorry, you are not eligible. Meanwhile, my GP returned from vacation and replied to the message I sent to her earlier: Yes, you should get a shot. I told her that “I am not eligible.” She replied: Maybe we do not have this vaccine yet. Could you try a local pharmacy? And please schedule a virtual visit with me if there are any issues. I replied that it was actually the local pharmacy that didn’t allow me to get an updated shot, and then decided to give it another try.

I started at the CVS site again and selected “I have a condition.” Nobody asked me what condition I have, and I could select an appointment pretty much immediately. I didn’t even have an insurance card with me, but I knew that this pharmacy had me in their system. I downloaded the card from the BCBS website and hurried up to my appointment.

Indeed, they didn’t ask for my insurance card, just verified the date of birth and said that both COVID and Flu were free, and five minutes later, I walked out with two band-aids on my arms.

That happened yesterday, and with all the craziness going on today with the Senate hearing, I am glad I didn’t spare any time!

Eye Surgery

My eye surgery was on Wednesday, and we had to be at Rush by 6-45 AM. If you recall how my first eye surgery was five years ago, it could not have been more different!

Rush Medical Center is something amazing! The top technologies, the high-skilled staff, the overall professionalism, friendliness, and respect for patients. It was great that, unlike five years ago, Boris could be there with me. It turned out that although I was not nervous, I actually was, and I missed a lot of explanations from the surgeon regarding what exactly and why would be done (there were three separate procedures).

Right after the surgery, I couldn’t tell what the result would look like because they told me to keep the patch on. I felt OK but could not really focus on anything, and I was motion-deprived because I couldn’t do any exercises, and it was too cold to walk outside. On Thursday morning, we went for a post-op appointment, where they took my patch off, and although my vision was foggy, I realized it was almost perfect! the surgeon told me that I saw way better than he expected me to see on day one, and I was sent home with a whole bunch of eye drops and instructions “not to move fast.” That’s the most challenging thing for me to do! This “no nothing” will last for a week (two days done, five more to go), and after that, I will be able to gradually return to my normal level of activities with complete healing in a month.

TIME Magazine: How To Negotiate Your Medical Bill

I’ve been saying exactly what this article says to everyone—do not pay any medical bill you receive immediately! Never! This article lists all the steps and how they should be done. By the way, before my mom had Medicaid, I had to negotiate her bills, and I remember that I would receive a 30% discount just when I called the first time, without any negotiations. But to get even more discount, please follow the steps below.

I would also like to mention that I find it completely disgusting that in the US, we have to do it this way, that our healthcare is so screwed up!

Continue reading “TIME Magazine: How To Negotiate Your Medical Bill” →

Mom’s Caregivers

It took almost four months, but my mom finally had all the services she could have. Setting up the homemaker service took five visits from different social workers and coordinators from different organizational levels, but finally, everything is in place, and the woman who comes to her is really nice! She has been there only once to do some cleaning, and it looks like I will need to tell her what she can do to help my mom because my mom can’t realize what she needs help with. I have a long list, however!

On Wednesday, a technician came, and her wearable device was set up, although she is complaining and does not want to wear it. Learning something new, including the simple thing of pushing a button and an overall concept of wearable, is challenging for her, so I am unsure how effective this device will be. I just hope for the best.

Another thing I was planning to do but am unsure about is setting up her paratransit. They need us to show up for an interview where they will determine whether my mom needs paratransit, and that’s a whole project on its own. However, since one of my friends uses paratransit, I know it entails long waits and possible delays, so I am not sure it will be worth using it instead of Uber. Still thinking about it.

Everyone who interacted with my mom through these months was either just nice or exceptionally nice, and I am surprised and happy to see so many dedicated people working in elderly care.

All Updates

A side note: I credit myself for two responsible actions. First, when I got a call that my mom fell and was taken to the hospital, I ate before rushing there. And second, when she was already home on Saturday, I asked Igor to stay with her for an extra hour and went to the beach because I knew it was my last opportunity of the season. I said thank you to the lake, to the warm clean water, and to that amazing summer.

Those were the last two responsible actions on my part. Although the second CT scan didn’t show any negative dynamics, the doctor still didn’t want to let my mom go back home. All the doctors kept telling me about horrible things that could happen if my mom fell one more time and insisted she had to be supervised 24/7 if we wanted to take her home. Mom didn’t want to be supervised, she didn’t want to make any changes in her routine, and she repeatedly said that she better die than like “like that.”

It was great that Anna could come over and stay until Tuesday afternoon. Mom was thrilled to see her, and I could take breaks and even do some work. However, we still struggled to make mom use assistive devices and exercise caution.

Taking a shower using the bench was the hardest, and I almost yelled at her. She kept saying that she was not used to washing herself sitting, and it was inconvenient. But then, I came up with a great strategic idea. Mom often states that I don’t remember how it is to live without a shower at home while she lived like this and had to go to the public baths once a week. In fact, I do remember: I had to go to public baths when I was in summer camps and when we stayed in the countryside in summer. So when she repeated that “she never washed herself in a sitting position, I said: Wait, what about the public baths? Didn’t you sit on a bench then? And this was a trigger. She said yes, and you had to wash the bench before sitting on it!

Then she got into the shower as I instructed her, and then I saw through the door crack that she was washing herself while sitting, and then she got out of the bathtub in a safe way. I said: good job, mom! You learned a new skill! For that she replied: there is nothing new in it!

By some miracle which I am not going to question, he got at-home physical therapy twice a week and the nurse’s visits once a week. She already had one PT session and did the exercises once on her own, so the progress is outstanding.

I am planning to go to the office for tomorrow afternoon.

Our Small But Important Victory

Not sure whether this Tribune article is visible to non-subscribers, so copying it here:

Aldermen move to establish quiet zone around downtown abortion clinic
By A.D. Quig
Chicago Tribune
•
Published: Nov 13, 2023 at 3:47 pm

Following anti-abortion protests and alleged “attempts to harass and intimidate women seeking health care services” at a downtown abortion clinic, aldermen moved Monday to create a new “noise sensitive zone” in the streets surrounding the facility.

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to bar protesters from using a bullhorn, loudspeaker or hitting a drum or other object “to produce a sharp percussive noise so as to interfere with the functions” of Family Planning Associates clinic.

Two aldermen voted against the proposal, citing concerns about protesters’ rights and how officials would decide whether protests crossed a line.

The ordinance from Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, follows what he said were multiple noise complaints about loud and disruptive anti-abortion protesters at the clinic, including from nearby residents as well as FPA clinical staff. The clinic offers abortion care and other gynecological services.

Continue reading “Our Small But Important Victory” →

Community Vaccination

I tried to attend a community vaccination event today to get a new COVID-19 vaccine for me and my mom. Unfortunately, when I signed up for both of us, I forgot that I had a mentoring circle meeting at work at 12-30, while the event was planned from 10 AM to 2 PM. Overall, that was the day when I was trying to do too many things. I stayed home for a seasonal furnace tune-up, which was supposed to happen between 8 and 12. I hoped the technician would come earlier and I would have time to take my mom to the vaccination before this 12-30 meeting. But obviously, when I need it most, it does not happen. Not only did the technician come in after 11, but he also stayed for an hour and a half – I do not know what he was doing for so long! When he left, I was already in the mentoring circle meeting, and after we were done, I decided to go to the vaccination site and see what the situation was – it was only 2-30 PM.
When I arrived, they told me it would be a 45-minute wait. I decided to stay. They would close the sign-up at two but then serve all the people who came by that time.
I had two people at work waiting for me to get back online, and I had grocery delivery between 3 PM and 4 PM, and when I realized that it was still at least another 15 min at 3-05, I left.
A lot of time was wasted. To be honest, when I was leaving the house at 1-30, I heard this sneaking voice in my head: just let it go, it didn’t work! But then I decided to give it a try… Once again – listen to the universe, and don’t try to bend it.
We will find another appointment 🙂

About Mom

Now that several things related to mom are finally resolved, I can talk about what happened last week. I already mentioned several times that last Friday was a disaster and several things that didn’t go right. But there were more.

Mom had a passport appointment at the Russian consulate in NYC, and even before I knew that I would be starting a new job, I knew I could not go with her because it was just a couple of days before my conferences would start.

From the very beginning, we planned on Igor coming with her, although she complained quite a bit that it was not me who would accompany her.

We submitted all the paperwork in advance, and I told mom I would double-check that nothing had changed two weeks before the appointment.

So I did, and we put all her paperwork together. The appointment was on Wednesday, and Igor and mom were going to NYC on Tuesday. On Friday afternoon, mom received an e-mail from the Russian consulate saying that they are no longer accepting applications for biometric passports, so everybody who has appointments scheduled should apply for a 5-year passport.
Everything about the non-biometric passport is different, including that you have to bring the photos with you and you need a return envelope. I had not extra time at all, so I called Igor and asked him whether he could take mom to the passport pictures and whether he could buy an envelope. These items were critical given the upcoming Labor Day and the Post Office closing. (And right after that, I had to ask him to wait for the exterminator in my apartment!)

Since I would be in Milwaukee on Saturday, I told mom that I would come on Sunday to redo the paperwork. As it turned out, her knee started to hurt really badly on Thursday (and she didn’t tell me anything). Then on Friday, she leaned on her right wrist when she was standing up, and after that, she was unable to do anything with her right hand. So when I came on Sunday, I observed the situation and said that we were going to the emergency room.
Four hours later, we were back at her place, her right arm immobilized, and we had to do a follow-up visit. And she had to go to New York.

That was not the best couple of days for me, but everything got resolved. Mom’s new passport application was accepted, Igor survived traveling with her, I could find an appointment for her, and the doctor reassured us that nothing was broken and she didn’t need to wear a splinter anymore.

All I can say is it could be worse, especially given my upcoming travels! I hope that the crisis is averted for some time!

Mom

I made some progress with Mom’s medical appointments in the past two months. First, we met with the social worker, who talked with her about the Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives. She sent us a copy of the document to review with mom and sign it.

Since the doctor suggested it, mom could not object to discussing this uncomfortable topic. Previously she was always like, “I do not want to talk about it; I didn’t give it a thought.” Now, she had no choice but review :). Then, we met with a geriatric specialist. I wanted to arrange that for a long time because I am never sure whether I am too alarmed when mom forgets things or the opposite – I do not notice when it’s time to be alarmed.

We talked for a very long time. On the one hand, there was some reassurance that things were not that bad. On the other hand, they do not have a baseline. For them, the fact that mom does not forget to turn the gas off, can cook, and shop for her groceries is enough to conclude that she is in decent shape. I know, however, that these are very basic skills for her that will be there the longest. We will see how things will progress.

Another progress was with her hearing aid – she was seen by a high-skilled professional, ee=vverything free, everything without long waits. Now we are waiting for t=her new hearing devices to be ready. The place where they are made is Russian-speaking, but she still has so much trouble understanding what she is asked that I had to call them back afterward to clarify several things. (I could not go with herl Igor did, and he was sure she understood the questions, which was a wrong assumption).

I do not want to take her for a vision test until she has her new hearing aid, which will most likely happen later in spring.