Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
DECEMBER 2003 NICA NEWS
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS
Jim BarryJim Barry continues to educate the citizens of Loup City with his Medicare knowledge. Jim spoke at the Loup City Senior Center in June and to a church group in July.
Rita Brehmer
Volunteer Rita Brehmer of Pender gave a presentation in September to the Women's Organization - P.E.O. Rita presented on home health care and long-term care.
Dolores Brown & Juanita Moore
Dolores Brown and Juanita Moore of Omaha partnered up to share Medicare information on Fraud and Abuse. In September, Dolores & Juanita spoke at the Florence Senior Center and in October at the Christie Heights Senior Center and the Family Health Service.
Deidra Carpenter
Deidra spent November 1, 2003 at the Diabetic Health Fair in Holdrege, Nebraska. Deidra provided information at this event on prescription assistance, Medicare preventive benefits, and diabetes.
Barbara Graham
Barbara Graham of Aurora spoke to a church group of approximately 25 members on September 13, 2003 in Marquette, Nebraska. Barbara presented NICA information on Medicare supplement insurance, prescription drug assistance, and fraud and abuse.
Joyce Mack & Bill Hamilton
Joyce Mack & Bill Hamilton continued their ongoing monthly volunteer activity by providing an informational booth every Monday in August and September at the Corrigan Senior Center in Omaha.
Bonnie Hueftle
Bonnie gave a presentation in September at the Eustis Senior Center about reading Medicare Summary Notices. Her presentation was mentioned in the Tri-City Tribune of September 18, 2003. The article was written by another NICA Volunteer, Cindy Schurr.
Dennis Kamprath
Dennis Kamprath, a NICA Volunteer in Grand Island, submitted a Medicare article in the November issue of the Grand Generation Center newsletter. This newsletter has a potential of reaching at least 300 people! What a great way to spread the news.
Laura Kruse
Laura Kruse of South Sioux City continued her efforts of promoting Medicare knowledge by speaking at the October 11, 2003, town hall meeting where Congressman Doug Beureuter was presiding. She commented on veterans care, prescription drug concerns, and NICA.
Shirley Lake
Shirley Lake gave two presentations on Medicare & Medicare supplement insurance at the Gothenburg Senior Center. In July she spoke to 84 beneficiaries and in August to 70 beneficiaries.
Linda Maly
NICA volunteer Linda Maly of Weston, Nebraska, displayed a NICA poster at the Prague Clinic in Saunders County. On September 11, 2003, Linda gave a presentation in Wahoo to approximately 35 people on prescription drug assistance and the NICA Program.
Thad Maples
Lincoln's new NICA volunteer, Thad Maples, has displayed a NICA poster at the Lincoln Action Program. It has the potential to reach hundreds of low-income disabled and elderly beneficiaries.
Loren Parks
In October, Omaha volunteer Loren Parks gave a presentation at the Heartland Senior Center on Medicare Fraud & Abuse and the NICA program. Approximately 25 people were in attendance.
Maidie Peters
Maidie presented information on Medicare to beneficiaries receiving their flu shot at the Kearney Senior Center, and also did a newsletter article that reached approximately 70 people.
Jayne Prince
In October, Jayne Prince of Norfolk traveled to Neligh to give a presentation on Medicare Fraud & Abuse.
Pam Roberts
Pam Roberts, a NICA Volunteer in Omaha, gave a presentation at the Jewish Community Center in October on Medicare Fraud & Abuse and the NICA program. Approximately 40 people were in attendance. However, Pam didn't stop there. She was also responsible for putting up Medicare Outreach Posters at the Pacific Springs Retirement Village, Walgreens, Swanson Library, and Bakers Grocery Store in Omaha during the month of November.
Becky Romshek
Becky from David City provided information at health care booths in Seward during September and at the Butler County Health Fair in October. She really reached the rural population when she distributed information on Medicare, home health care, long-term care, Medicare supplements, and prescription assistance.
Addie Schroeder
Addie Schroeder provided information on Medicare Fraud & Abuse during a presentation to approximately 40 people at the Ravenna Senior Center in August. Addie is from Kearney.
Cindy Schurr
Eustis is lucky to have Cindy Schurr as a Medicare advocate for her community. In August, Cindy spoke to the Morning Coffee Club, gave her monthly presentation at noon-time meal at the Eustis Senior Center on "NICA Nuggets", and prepared a column in the Eustis Senior Center Newsletter titled "NICA Nook". In September, Cindy continued to spread the word by having articles on Medicare & NICA placed in the Eustis Senior Center Newsletter and in the Tri-City Tribune. On September 23, 2003, Cindy finished out the month by giving an informational presentation at the Eustis Senior Center on pre-existing conditions and Medicare's open enrollment to approximately 29 people.
Betty Stiles
Betty Stiles continues her active volunteerism in Beatrice. The first Monday of every month, Betty has spent the mornings at the Beatrice Senior Center making herself available for questions on Medicare and the NICA program to those beneficiaries needing her assistance.
Jim Umshler
Jim Umshler from Omaha is a new NICA volunteer that has hit the ground running! In September and October, Jim displayed NICA informational posters at a doctor's office, South View senior living center, AARP office, Gorat's Restaurant, Kubat Pharmacy, and a Barber Shop. This type of outreach has the potential to reach over a thousand people.
Jean Van Mark
Jean, our NICA volunteer out of Lexington, gave a presentation to approximately 80 people at the Lexington Senior Center in August. Jean dazzled them with information on the Dr. Ornish program and prescription drug assistance. Jean has headed south for the winter and we eagerly await her return in April so she can help inform beneficiaries on all the new Medicare changes.
Husker Harvest Days
This year, NICA volunteers provided support at a very successful informational booth at Husker Harvest Days, an event with over 80,000 attendees held near Grand Island, Nebraska, on September 9-11, 2003. Jayne Prince of Norfolk was responsible for organizing the booth where she was assisted by other NICA volunteers, including Dennis Kamprath, Jim Barry, Betty Schuster, James Bendorf, Bill Grimes, Rozella Sidders, and Regional Representative for NICA, Sharon Strong. In addition, Bob Haisch from Mutual of Omaha, Nebraska's Medicare Part A fiscal intermediary, was also able to assist as a participant at this booth.Younker's Senior Day
Omaha volunteers for NICA were busy in September & October when they provided an informational booth at the Younkers Senior Days in the Oakview Mall. Volunteers in attendance were Mary Guin Knoll and Bill Hamilton, and Aimee McKim assisted with the effort.Baker's Flu Shot Clinic
Aimee McKim, Joyce Mack, Bill Hamilton, and Jim Umshler of Omaha did an outreach booth at the Flu Shot Clinics hosted by Baker's Grocery stores in October. These volunteers assisted store patrons with any of their Medicare questions.Prime of Life Festival
Jim Barry, Betty Schuster, Maidie Peters, and Sharon Strong entertained Medicare questions on October 9th at an informational booth for Kearney's "Prime of Life Festival". Approximately 200 people were present at this event.Nebraska Rural Health Conference
September 3-4, 2003 was the Nebraska Rural Health Conference in Kearney. Information was distributed by NICA volunteers Jim Barry, Jayne Prince, Addie Schroeder, Sharon Strong.
Ongoing Dedication
The following volunteers are to be congratulated for sending in contact forms documenting counseling efforts with beneficiaries since the last newsletter. NICA Volunteers and staff submitted contacts with 404 beneficiaries during the past three months! Way to go!
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Judy Andres Lo'Raine Antonson Edwin Baldrige Cindy Barker Carol Barr Jim Barry James Bendorf Rita Brehmer Deidra Carpenter Dorothy Eaton Leonard Finnegan Joyce Forst Barb Goosic Mabel Gordon Barbara Graham Bill Grimes Bill Hamilton Nyla Heese Evelyn Humlicek Ruth Kamino Wayne Kempf Mary Guin Knoll Charles Kruse Laura Kruse Shirley Lake Nancy Lipovsky Gretchen Lovejoy |
Joyce Mack Jodi Mackin Linda Maly Chet McPherson Jack Moran Janis Nason Diane Nieveen Jim O'Donnell Gena Olinger Loren Parks Maidie Peters Norma Phillips Dee Porter Pamela Roberts Marliss Rockwell Becky Romshek Addie Schroeder Cindy Schurr Betty Schuster Monica Shelton Rozella Sidders Tess Sinner Betty Stiles Jim Umshler Jean Van Markv Susan Williams Harley Winchester |
Reminder-Reporting Requirement
Don't forget that NICA has instituted a minimum reporting requirement for volunteers. Each volunteer must submit a minimum of four client contact and/or outreach forms each year to retain his or her active status, continue getting newsletters, manual updates, etc. If you have not submitted your forms, please do so. The new changes in Medicare offer the perfect opportunity to do outreach in your community.