Spearfish Daily Queen City Mail from Spearfish, South Dakota • Page 3

Lawrence County Newspapers Thursday, April 16, 1587 Page 3 Insurance explained at meeting By PAT LARSEN "If you have a supplemental insurance aent here in town, make sure you ask him to really explain your insurance," said Bonnie Leng-keek, office manager at Lookout Memorial Hospital. Lengkeek made the statement during an informational meeting sponsored by Spearfish Adult and Aging, Inc. at the Hickory House Wednesday afternoon. Also providing information were Clara Miller, receptionist at Family Medical Clinic; Rita Severson, clinical care coordinator; and Katie Bogess, Social Services. "Insurance is hard to understand," Lengkeek said, even if you have dealt with it for many years as she has.

It changes constantly and there are many policies that she has trouble understanding, she said. When a person comes to the hospital for in-patient or out-patient care, they should bring their Medicare and any other insurance cards they have as well as their Social Security number, Lengkeek said. The hospital will make copies of the cards for their files to make sure that they have the right address to file insurance claims. For instance, Lengkeek said, Aetna has 15 different offices where claims are processed. Insurance papers should also be brought to the hospital to speed things up and to get deductions paid.

the hospital would make insurance claims easier. Lengkeek said that, she didn't know if it would be possible, but would relay the suggestion to Glenn Bryant, Lookout administrator. People should not hesitate to ask questions about billing at the hospital, she said. If you know you are going to be admitted to the hospital, Lengkeek said, you can bring your own toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and brush to avoid charges for them. But if you didn't know you were going to be hospitalized, the hospital can provide them, she said.

Rita Severson cautionedpeople not to bring their medications to the hospital, because the hospital can only dispense medication which comes from its own pharmacy. The hospital will need a list of the medications and dosages, however, she said. Earlier in the meeting, Clara Miller told the audience about visits to Family Medical Clinic. People are asked to sign in when they arrive and fill out an information sheet if they have never been to the clinic, she said. The information is used to make up a chart and will be entered into the computer.

The clinic also needs Medicare, insurance and Social Security infor mation. The charge for a patient with Medicare is usually $16, she said, and there is a $75 deductible. The clinic will file Medicare claims and will file supplemental insurance if the patient wishes, she said. But the clinic does not accept assignment for office visits. the residents with an array of Easter songs and poetry.

(Photo by Mark Mowry) West Elementary out of the Dorsett after entertaining host Ag Day Luncheon state's oldest active farmer and rancher," Hogen said, "as well as those pople who made the nominations." Also receiving special recognition will be South Dakota State University Agricultural Com-munictions Specialist Lee Sudlow and Al's Oasis of Chamberlain. "We want to recognize all of these people for all they have done for South Dakota and for agriculture," Hogen said. "Each of them, in their own unique way, has overcome life's ups and downs to make our state what it is today." Spearfish Senior News Pierre man is elderly liaison Vernon Ashley of Pierre has been -named Sen. Larry Pressler's se Twin Cities Senior News A patient's insurance information is filed in the hospital's it is wise to carry it with you in case you are hospitalized in another town, Lengkeek said. Lookout Memorial Hospital takes care of all insurance filing, Lengkeek said, and accepts assignment from Medicare.

Information on the meaning of assignment was provided by katie Boggess, who said that the bill is sent to Medicare and "whatever they pay is it." The Mecicare and supplemental insurance forms are filed at the same time, which sometimes causes problems with the insurance companies, but their computer can't do it any other way. The Medicare explanation of benefits is sent to the supplemental company after Medicare pays, she said. If the patient gets a letter from their insurance company on the subject, the hospital will handle it for them, she said. She warned the listeners to be patient with Medicare because it takes three to four weeks for them to pay. She explained the Medicare deductible system, saying that it is $520 for each in-patient stay if it has been 60 days since the last stay.

That deductible can be paid up to four times a year if the timing is right, she said. A suggestion was made from the audience that a central billing system for all the doctors in town and Chorus practice will be held at and bridge at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Events for Wednesday are painting for fun at 10 a.m. with pinochle at 1 p.m.

andbandpracticeat4p.m. Thursday activities include china painting, cribbage and ladies pool at 1 p.m. and square dancing at 30 p.m. The Western South Dakota Council of Senior Citizens will meet April 24 in Sturgis at 9 a.m. Persons interested in attending the all day meet call the Center for more information.

"If the spouse is still living and is relatively well, he or she is frequently the key person in providing for the less able partner," says Williams. "This includes personal care, dressing, bathing and managing the home." According to the Williams study, the elderly in their own homes as a whole are not discouraged or depressed. Un-modifiable pain does bring discouragement and depressed mood, however, she said. Those in pain, whatever their age, had the hardest time adjusting to their conditions and changes in lifestyle. Many of the people interviewed suffered from cancer, arthritis, lung disease, heart disease, diabetes or fractured bones.

Age itself was not a major factor in depression and general attitude. But, the middle-aged did find it harder to adjust to their conditions and long-term physical illnesses. At first, Williams was hesitant to mention death to her elderly subjects. But she learned that they did not mind talking of death and told her that they were not offended by the topic. However, again the middle-aged did not respond to the subject as readily as did the older people.

"It was disconcerting to me to realize that many of the sick elderly have very low incomes within their age group, Williams said. "Their material resources were more limited than those of the non-sick elderly." There ill be no luncheon at the Spearfish Center on Good Friday, April 17. Whist begins at 1 p.m. Saturday the center will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

At 10 a.m. a program on the Ghost Towns will be shown for seminar people only. A special movie program by Dave Miller will be presented at 10 a.m. Monday, April 20. This is open to the public and a free will donation will be taken.

Knitting and crocheting will be in session at 1 p.m. and the History class convenes at 2:30 with bingo at 7 p.m. Hogen said that 48 nominations were received for the oldest active farmer-rancher. "We have people in their 90s who are still actively farming and vying to be our oldest nominee," Hogen said. He said no names would be released until the day of the luncheon.

Sudlow will be honored for his many contributions to the State Fair. He has spent all of his Labor Day holidays the last 35 years helping photograph, set-up exhibits and judge at the fair. He helped start the 4-H photo and judging classes. Council of Senior Citizens' meeting at the Sturgis Senior Citizens' Center; 1 p.m.. Penny Bingo.

Registration for the Western S.D. Council of Senior Citizens' meeting will be at 8 a.m. at the Sturgis Senior Center and will last until approximately 2:30 p.m. Thank You To all blood donors, volunteer helpers, hospital kitchen and maintenance assistance, Safeway for juice cookies, The Queen City Mail and EZ101 for news coverage. 75 donors responded.

Lookout Memorial Auxiliary Deadwood Prices Good April 16-22 nior citizen intern for 1987. Pressler, a memlber of the Senate Aging Committee, has sponsored a senior intern from South Dakota the past 10 years. Ashley will be in Washington May 18-22. "Vernon Ashley has a wealth of experience in state and local elderly issues and will be an excellent representative for South Dakota's senior citizens," Pressler said in a prepared statement. Ashley has served as state program director for North and South Dakota ACTION programs since 1972.

He was responsible for administering Older Americans Act programs such as Retired Senior Volunteers (RSVP), Foster Grandparents, and the Senior Companion programs. He is also a newly appointed member of the South Dakota Advisory Council on Aging. Ashley is former tribal chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and worked as a relocation officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reser- Study Shows Many Elderly Able to Surmount Problems Bunny hop Second graders from "bunny hopped" their way Home health care facility SDDA to PIERRE The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and several state businesses will host a luncheon March 20, National Agriculture Day, to honor the Oldest Active Farmer-Rancher nominees and several others for their contributions to agriculture, according to State Agriculture Secretary Marcis Hogen. "We are inviting all of the people nominated in our search for the Vernon Ashley vation. He was coordinator of Indian affairs for three governors, helping establish the Governors' Interstate Indian Council.

Pressler said he received over 50 applications for the position. St. John's, Deadwood 405 Williams 11:00 a.m. FOREST GROVE, Ore. (AP) -Physical disability, pain and old aee may make independent living difficult, but elderly people do manage to deal with all three problems.

This is a major finding from a study done by Dr. Ann Williams of the Pacific University physical therapy department. Williams' research and interest in gerontology is incorporated into many of her classes, so that physical therapists graduating from Pacific have developed an understanding of the unique problems of their future older patients. One key to independence among the elderly is being mentally competent, she points out. "If they have their cognitive abilities, many can manage the problems they face," Williams said.

"The mentally sharp elderly usually can network more readily with family, friends and community services so that often they can continue living in their homes, relatively independently." Williams' study was funded by the American Association of Retired Persons and was conducted with Dr. Richard Schulz at the Institute on Aging at Portland State University. The study took place over a period of 10 months in the greater Portland, metropolitan area. Williams and her assistants interviewed 114people, ranging in age from 50 to 82. A few were still working, despite their handicaps, and she went to their places of employment.

Does Easter mean beans to your kids? If you agree that Easter should do more for your children than raise their blood sugar level, we invite you and your family to experience the true miracle of Easter in The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church The events for next week at the Twin Cities Senior Citizens' Center in Lead will be highlighted by the monthly "Happy Birthday" party on Monday, April 20, beginning at 1 p.m. Hostesses will be Helen Mat-tson and Marion Wilson. Scheduled events will include: Friday. April 17 Closed all day for Good Friday.

Monday, April 20-1 p.m., "Happy Birthday" party for members having April birthdays; 1 p.m., Pool. Tuesday, April 21 -10 a.m., Exercise Class; Club closed in the afternoon. Wednesday, April 22 9 a.m., Quilting; 1 p.m.. Bingo, hosted by Degree of Honor; 1 p.m., Pool. Thursday, April 23 -10 a.m..

Exercise Class; 1 p.m.. Pool. Friday, April 24 Western 672 Main Fresh 49C stk. Russet Potatoes Entra Fancy Red Delicious Apples 49c lb. Green Onions 5M00 Fresh Broccoli 69c lb.

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