Carolyn Ferguson, FNP-C, now offers Battlefield Acupuncture at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic as a treatment for pain relief.

Ferguson was certified in the technique in 2019. She said she has found it to be an effective treatment for pain.

“I have used this technique with many patients who suffer from pain, and have found it to be highly effective,” Ferguson said.

Battlefield Acupuncture is an acupuncture protocol where tiny needles are placed in the ear to reduce pain in the body. Up to five sterile needles are placed on each ear. Needles typically stay in for hours to days. They may fall out on their own or be removed manually. Most clients have immediate pain relief. The duration of pain relief differs from person to person.

After a treatment, the patient is encouraged to relax for 24 hours with no heavy exercise, yard work or house work. The patient should not consume alcohol for at least 6 hours. The patient may return to normal activity after 24 hours, and may bathe or shower with the needles in place. They must be careful not to pull the needles when washing or drying the ears.  The patient will also be asked to monitor their sleep, how they feel and their pain level during the time the needles are in place.

Battlefield Acupuncture is not for everyone. It should not be used by those who are pregnant or may be pregnant, those who are afraid of needles to the point of passing out, or those who have bleeding disorders or take certain medications.

Some insurances may cover acupuncture for certain conditions. Please check your insurance documents for further information.

JCH&L Fairbury Clinic has the equipment in place. Call JCH&L Fairbury Clinic for more information or to make an appointment.

Those who are Medicare age or close often have questions about the difference between traditional Medicare with a supplement (often called Medigap), and Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, is a bundled plan that private companies administer. The plans vary based on which medical services are available in a certain area, and people typically need to receive treatment from an approved network of healthcare professionals. Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits, such as dental care or vision care.

Traditional Medicare is available in several parts that cover in-hospital treatments, medical care, and prescription drugs. However, out-of-pocket costs usually include deductibles and coinsurance. Medicare supplement plans, or Medigap plans, are available to help people fund these extra costs. People can enroll in them alongside traditional Medicare. Traditional Medicare with a supplement usually has fewer restrictions on what providers can be seen under the plan.

A person can’t be in Medicare Advantage and have a supplement plan.

When a person qualifies for Medicare at the age of 65 years and enrolls in Medicare Part B, they have a 6-month Medigap open enrollment period (OEP). During this time, an insurance company cannot deny a person Medigap coverage based on their age or any preexisting health conditions they have.

However, after this enrollment period ends, an insurance company does not have to sell a person a Medigap policy, and they may also charge more for a policy. For this reason, people may find that they can save money if they sign up for Medigap within the first 6 months of their Medicare benefits starting.

This also may make it more difficult for a person who decides Medicare Advantage isn’t working well for them to switch to traditional Medicare with a supplement.

If someone begins Original Medicare with a Supplement and decides to change to a Medicare Advantage Plan, they have 12 months to return to Original Medicare and still be able to get their original Supplement back.  After 12 months, they would need to be health screened and could be denied. In turn, if someone starts with Medicare Advantage and wants to get a supplement, they have 12 months to also get a supplement with no underwriting.  The 6-month window would apply to a beneficiary getting a Medigap the first time.

“If you have been on an Advantage plan and then switch to traditional Medicare, your chances may be less of getting covered by a supplemental plan. Supplement companies can deny coverage based on health status, age, and preexisting conditions,” said Kim Shadduck, business office manager at JCH&L.

When choosing a plan it’s important to look to the future, Shadduck said.

“Those looking at Medicare options need to consider not only their current health, but their future health. Look at family risk factors and possible future diagnoses, and consider what you may need in the future,” she said.

Those who need help considering possible plans can contact Nebraska SHIP at 1-800-234-7119. Nebraska SHIP educates people about Medicare and empowers them to make informed decisions about health insurance. SHIP does not sell insurance nor endorse any insurance company, product or agent.

Those with questions may also call Jefferson Community Health & Life.

“While we can’t tell you which plan is best for you, we can help you consider things to think about in selecting a plan,” Shadduck said. “Our goal is to provide our area residents with the highest quality health care, and to help answer their questions about insurance and financial assistance for health care.”

Those on Medicare might want to check on their eligibility for assistance with the cost of participating at a fitness center. JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center is a partner with Renew Active, Silver and Fit and Silver Sneakers. All are fitness plans which are part of Medicare or Medicare Supplement plans.

Most of these programs pay the fitness center directly for the participant’s use of the facility. The participant must simply check in with they come to the facility, either to use equipment or take classes.

It is important to note that many of the plans which offer these programs are Medicare Advantage plans, which are different than original Medicare. But a few of the plans which offer these fitness programs are Medicare supplement plans.

If you are curious whether your plan covers any of these programs, you can talk to the staff at the Burkley Fitness Center. With your name, birthdate and insurance care, the staff can check whether you are eligible for the program.

“There are many factors in choosing an insurance plan which is right for your needs, and we don’t recommend choosing based on whether the plan provides fitness center membership. However, if the insurance plan that best suits your needs does cover fitness center membership, we encourage you to take advantage of that feature,” said Jen Johnson, JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center manager.

You can also ask your insurance provider if you qualify for fitness center benefits.
The fitness center offers annual and monthly rates, as well as punch cards for those who use the facility fewer times per month. All fees include group fitness classes. (Martial arts is a separate class which meets at the fitness center, so has its own fees. Burkley Fitness Center members receive a discount on martial arts classes.)

If you have questions about membership, fees or insurance coverage, please contact the Burkley Fitness Center at 402-729-6139.

The federal No Surprises Act takes effect Jan. 1, 2022, and seeks to protect consumers for surprise medical bills. Among its provisions, the No Surprises Act:

• Protects patients from receiving surprise medical bills resulting from gaps in coverage for emergency services and certain services provided by out-of-network clinicians at in-network facilities, including by air ambulances.
• Holds patients liable only for their in-network cost-sharing amount, while giving providers and insurers an opportunity to negotiate reimbursement.
• Allows providers and insurers to access an independent dispute resolution process in the event disputes arise around reimbursement. The legislation does not set a benchmark reimbursement amount.
• Requires both providers and health plans to assist patients in accessing health care cost information.

Jefferson Community Health & Life is putting into place the required policies and provisions to comply with the act. JCH&L’s information can be found on the website at JCHealthandLife.org, and then under I want to …. View Surprise Billing/Good Faith Estimate Information.

Under the act, when a patient receives emergency care or gets treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or surgical center, the patient is protected from surprise billing. Surprise billing may happen when a patient can’t control who is involved in his or her care – such as during an emergency or when a visit is scheduled at an in-network facility but is unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

The new provisions also allow patients to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of particular medical procedures from health care facilities. Health care providers must provide an estimate of the bill for upcoming medical items and services to patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance to pay for a service. The Good Faith Estimate would be given for the total expected cost of non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs, such as medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment and hospital fees. The Good Faith Estimate is given in writing at least one day before the medical service, or may be given before scheduling. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

If you have questions about these new rules, call JCH&L at 402-729-3351.