The Puzzle of Housing Aging Sex Offenders

6-1-17 National:

States are grappling with how to care for a growing population of registered offenders in long-term care facilities.

When state officials finally released William Cubbage from the Iowa Mental Health Institute in 2010, they predicted he was too sick to hurt anyone again. But the octogenarian only became an even more notorious sex offender.

Between 1987 and 2000, Cubbage was convicted in four separate cases of assault. Then, a year after his release, he molested a 95-year-old woman in a nursing home. Neither the home’s patients nor their families had been notified of his history. The woman’s relatives were unable to sue, when the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the state was not legally liable. The state took Cubbage back, and in 2016 he was in the news again for allegedly trying to grope a care worker during a bath.

Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009-2014 - Statistical Tables

November 29, 2016 NCJ 250200:

Presents estimates of nonfatal violent crime (rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault) against persons age 12 or older with disabilities. Disabilities are classified according to six limitations: hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living. The report compares the victimization of persons with and without disabilities living in noninstitutionalized households, including distributions by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, disability type, and other victim characteristics. It also includes crime characteristics, such as victim-offender relationship, time of crime, reporting to police, and use of victim services agencies. Findings are based on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) from 2009 to 2014. NCVS data were combined with data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey to generate victimization rates. ..Source.. by Erika Harrell, Ph.D., Bureau of Justice Statistics

Deaf in Jail – Mistreatment of the Deaf

7-28-15 National:

Deaf people belong to one of the most vulnerable layers of society for obvious reasons. They cannot hear. Deaf people in jail are even more insecure. Some might say that if a person is in jail, this person deserves it and deserves the mistreatment, despite any physical disabilities like Deafness. Prison is a punishment already. God teaches us to forgive and to have mercy. Unfortunately, not many of us follow God`s commandments.

Quite often, Deaf people in prison get poor healthcare. A Deaf person can be easy to frame or wrongly accuse. For a Deaf person, it would be difficult to prove himself not guilty. Such a person may easily become bullied and it is very rare for them to be given any tools for easier communication.

Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009–2013 - Statistical Tables

5-21-15 Washington DC:

Presents estimates of nonfatal violent victimization (rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault) against persons age 12 or older with disabilities from 2009 to 2013. Tables compare the victimization of persons with and without disabilities living in noninstitutionalized households, including distributions by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, victims' types of disabilities, and other victim characteristics.

Tables also include information on victim–offender relationship, time of crime, reporting to police, and use of victim service agencies. Findings are based on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), and data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) were used to generate victimization rates. ..Source.. by Erika Harrell, Ph.D

Appropriate Treatment For Deaf Sex Offenders

3-27-15 National:

Sexual predation is considered to be a heinous crime rather than a disease. In a paper written by Dr. McCay Vernon – the late psychologist who specialized in mental health issues and deaf persons – pedophilia is a “a curse,” because crimes by sexual molesters arouse so much public anger, and sex offenders often receive severe sentences by judges, juries and the public.

The curse extends beyond public outcry.

When a sex offender who is deaf, is sentenced to prison, the programs that prisons offer are often not accessible to them. Prison officials commonly – and wrongly – believe, that providing a sign language interpreter, thus an equivalency of the message will suffice. Not so. Many deaf sex offenders do not understand the psychological vocabulary that is used in these lectures. Further, they cannot read the materials.

Many Deaf adult criminal offenders are reading at the second grade level or below, have histories of physical, and emotional abuse, and may have cognitive disabilities as well. They are unable to grasp the concepts in these sessions, or learn how to process the stages in order to gain awareness of their disease. The textbooks, workbooks and other written materials are often written at the 7th grade or higher, so they cannot read the materials.

Little-Known Health Act Fact: Prison Inmates Are Signing Up

3-9-2014 National:

In a little-noticed outcome of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, jails and prisons around the country are beginning to sign up inmates for health insurance under the law, taking advantage of the expansion of Medicaid that allows states to extend coverage to single and childless adults — a major part of the prison population.

State and counties are enrolling inmates for two main reasons. Although Medicaid does not cover standard health care for inmates, it can pay for their hospital stays beyond 24 hours — meaning states can transfer millions of dollars of obligations to the federal government.

But the most important benefit of the program, corrections officials say, is that inmates who are enrolled in Medicaid while in jail or prison can have coverage after they get out. People coming out of jail or prison have disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases, especially mental illness and addictive disorders. Few, however, have insurance, and many would qualify for Medicaid under the income test for the program — 138 percent of the poverty line — in the 25 states that have elected to expand their programs.

Health care experts estimate that up to 35 percent of those newly eligible for Medicaid under Mr. Obama’s health care law are people with histories of criminal justice system involvement, including jail and prison inmates and those on parole or probation.

“For those newly covered, it will open up treatment doors for them” and potentially save money in the long run by reducing recidivism, said Dr. Fred Osher, director of health systems and services policy for the Council of State Governments Justice Center.

Nursing home residents’ aggression is studied

12-13-2014 National:

When people talk about abuse in nursing homes, they generally are referring to staff members victimizing the elderly. But researchers say an even more pressing, prevalent problem might be the violence that can — and does — erupt between residents.

According to a new study by Cornell University, nearly 1 in 5 people living in nursing homes is involved in at least one aggressive encounter each month.

“These altercations are widespread and common in everyday nursing-home life,” said Karl Pillemer, who is a professor at Cornell and at the Weill Cornell Medical College and a co-author of the study.

Resident-to-resident mistreatment is under-reported to the point that, at some long-term-care centers, “staff members seem almost unaware,” Pillemer said.

Nursing homes provide care for about 1.5 million older Americans nationwide, including about 90,000 in Ohio. By 2030, the number of U.S. adults 65 and older will more than double, to about 71 million.

Research has mostly focused on older adults who have been mistreated by their family and caregivers in the community or by staff members in nursing homes, said Dr. Mark Lachs, who is the other author of the report and a professor of medicine at Cornell’s medical college.

Feds examining medical devices for fatal cybersecurity flaws

10-24-2014 National:

They could be controlled remotely, overdose patients, or thwart heart implants.

It was an eerie tale. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney announced last year that he disabled the wireless function of the implanted heart defibrillator amid fears it could be exploited by terrorists wanting to kill him.

Cheney's announcement put a face to the fear of possible medical-device hacking exploits, and researchers and the federal government were slowly realizing there were genuine vulnerabilities associated with these implanted devices. They are equipped with computerized functions and wireless capabilities that allow the devices to be administered without requiring additional surgery, and therefore they could be vulnerable to hacker exploit.

Cheney's move may have seemed far-fetched, but his paranoia is being confirmed, as the Department of Homeland Security is now probing potential cybersecurity flaws in certain medical devices.

"The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Industrial Control Systems-Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) works directly with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical devices manufacturers, health care professionals, and facilities to investigate and address cyber vulnerabilities. DHS actively collaborates with public and private sector partners every day to identify and reduce adverse impacts on the nation’s critical cyber systems," DHS spokesman S.Y. Lee wrote Thursday to Ars.

Prisoners Unlikely to Benefit from New, Highly Effective Hepatitis C Treatment

10-15-2014 National:

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood-borne virus that is typically spread through intravenous drug use (i.e., sharing needles), tattooing with non-sterile needles, and sharing razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers or other hygiene items that may be exposed to blood. It is often a chronic disease and, if left untreated, can lead to severe liver damage.

Recent good news in the battle against HCV, in the form of two new drugs that are highly effective in eliminating the virus, is tempered by the fact that the companies that produce the drugs have priced them at $60,000 to $80,000 per 12-week course of treatment. This high cost prices the medications beyond the reach of most prison and jail systems – which is especially troubling considering that a substantial number of prisoners are infected with HCV.

The new drugs, approved by the FDA in late 2013, are simeprevir, branded as Olysio and manufactured by Janssen Therapeutics (a Johnson & Johnson company), and sofosbuvir, branded as Sovaldi and manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Based on clinical trials, Sovaldi has an 84-96% cure rate while Olysio has an 80-85% cure rate. Both drugs are used in combination with other HCV anti-viral medications, peginterferon alfa and/or ribavirin, and their cure rates vary depending on HCV genotype – specific variations of the virus.

Google trial lets you chat with doctors when you search for symptoms

Is this an option for sex offenders esp those getting up in age?

10-12-2014 National:

Searching the web for symptoms of illness can be dangerous -- you could identify a real condition, but you also risk scaring yourself for no reason through a misdiagnosis. Google might have a solution that puts your mind at ease, though.

The company has confirmed to Engadget that it's testing a Helpouts-style feature which offers video chats with doctors when you search for symptoms. While there aren't many details of how this works in practice, the search card mentions that Google is covering the costs of any chats during the trial phase.

You'll likely have to pay for virtual appointments if and when the service is ever ready for prime time, then. That's not ideal, but it could be much cheaper than seeing a physician in person. ..Continued.. by Jon Fingas

Las Vegas hospital sued after huge patient ID theft

10-12-2014 Nevada, National:

A San Miguel County woman filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against a Las Vegas, N.M., hospital and its parent company alleging the firm negligently allowed hackers to steal her personal information, along with that of millions of other patients nationwide.

The lawsuit alleges that the Tennessee-based parent company of Alta Vista Regional Hospital and five other New Mexico hospitals failed to properly protect and encrypt patient data, including Social Security numbers and possibly credit card numbers.

The company, Community Health Systems, Inc., reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in August that computer hackers in China bypassed the company’s security systems and stole data affecting some 4.5 million patients.

The theft likely occurred in April and June and included patient names, addresses, birth dates, telephone numbers and Social Security numbers, the company reported. Hackers did not obtain patient credit card information, the company told the SEC.

Medicaid: Information on Inmate Eligibility and Federal Costs for Allowable Services

10-6-2014 National:

In 2013, the Medicaid program financed health care services for more than 72 million individuals, and an additional 7 million beneficiaries are expected to enroll in 2014 as a result of states choosing to expand Medicaid eligibility as allowed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Most of these newly eligible individuals will be low-income adults, a population that may include individuals who are inmates in state prisons and local jails.

In the 27 states that opted to expand Medicaid eligibility as allowed under PPACA, the majority of inmates are likely to have incomes that would qualify them for Medicaid, a circumstance that did not generally exist before 2014, since Medicaid eligibility for adults has generally been limited to certain categories of low-income individuals, such as pregnant women and individuals who are aged or disabled. For example,

Social Security: 27 States That Won’t Tax Your Benefits

2014 National:

One of the biggest complaints about Social Security is that a portion of one's benefits must be given back to the government by way of income taxes. But while the federal government provides few safe harbors from this circular process, more than two dozen states have decided to exempt Social Security benefits from state income taxation altogether.

Social Security and federal taxes

To be fair, the taxation of Social Security at the federal level gets somewhat of a bad rap. This is because the potential tax liability is limited in both size and scope.

In the first case, you don't pay taxes on your benefits if they're your only source of income. Taxes only kick in if your "combined income" -- which equals your adjusted gross income plus your nontaxable interest plus half of your Social Security benefits -- exceeds certain thresholds.

Reduce your risk of dementia right now

9-17-2014 National:

The bottom line is that it's never too late to make some changes to improve your physical and mental well-being. Here are five things you can do right now to reduce your risk of dementia:

1. Look after your heart.
2. Be physically active.
3. Follow a healthy diet.
4. Challenge your brain.
5. Enjoy social activity.

The 10 warnings signs of Alzheimer's

The strongest evidence exists in linking dementia to a lack of education in early life, hypertension in midlife and smoking and diabetes across a lifetime, according to the new report.

"There's also relatively strong evidence that people in low-education countries have a higher risk for Alzheimer's and other dementias," said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs for the Alzheimer's Association. "(This) can be controlled across the lifespan. Taking people and giving them a better education in grade school, high school, and college significantly lowers risk at the population level."

It's also important to keep our brains buzzing as we get older.

"While we don't endorse specific activity like crosswords or mazes," Fargo said, "we say, 'Find a mentally challenging activity that's fun or enjoyable for you, and you'll maintain it. That's going to be good for your brain health as you age.' "

"If we can all enter old age with better developed, healthier brains," the report concludes, "we are likely to live longer, happier and more independent lives, with a much reduced chance of developing dementia." ..To read the full article.. by Ben Tinker, CNN

Are your medical records safe?

8-23-2014 National:

A decade ago, almost all doctors kept paper charts on every patient. That is changing quickly as laptops become as common as stethoscopes in exam rooms.

Recent hacking attacks have raised questions about how safe that data may be. Here are some frequently asked questions about this evolution underway in American medicine, and the government programs sparking the change.

Are my medical records stored electronically?

At least some of the information you share with your doctor or any hospital or clinic where you've been treated is probably stored on a computer. It's pretty common for most hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices to digitally store your basic information including your name, address and insurance company, the same way many retailers do.

How to Tell If Your Health Insurance Covers Mental Health Treatment

8-23-2014 National:

For some, the stigma associated with mental illness keeps them from seeking help, but others may be avoiding treatment simply because they are unsure of whether they can afford it or whether their health insurance covers it.

Each year, more than 5 million American adults experience a major depressive episode and do not seek treatment, according to a recent NerdWallet study. While insurance coverage for mental health treatment is more widely available and comprehensive thanks to recent changes, some say it still doesn't go far enough.

If you purchased your health insurance through state exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act, mental health care is covered. It is one of the ten benefits that must be covered on all plans under the law. If you have insurance through your employer, there's a pretty good chance you're covered, too. A Society for Human Resource Management survey of 2014 employee benefits found that 87% of employer health plans cover mental health treatment. But exactly what mental health services are covered under these plans varies and depends on what medical services are covered.

When former prisoners don't get health care, there are consequences

8-4-2014 National:

I knew immediately that James wasn't like most of my patients. The first thing I noticed was that he had rearranged the exam room so that he was not sitting with his back to the door. He was twitchy and seemed paranoid. He said he'd felt sick just stepping out of his apartment to come to his appointment. When I tried to examine him, he jumped and batted my hand away. My stethoscope flew off my shoulder.

I was startled, though not particularly surprised. James had just been released from 10 years of solitary confinement, and it was the first time in a decade that he'd been touched by another person. If some other provider had seen him, this visit might have ended differently: with frustration, aggression or even a call to the clinic security. But because I was trained to care for patients with a history of incarceration, I gathered my composure and continued on.

Close to 13 million patients return home from correctional facilities in the U.S. each year, often having been exposed to extreme conditions or even, as was reported in a recent New York Times article about Rikers Island, allegations of abuse at the hands of correctional officers. But rarely if ever are these patients seen by a provider trained to care for their special needs. Only 22 primary care residency programs in the U.S. train physicians in how to care for prisoners or people who have been through the correctional system.

A Test for Alzheimer's Disease Raises Thorny Ethical Issues

5-13-2014 National:

Experts weigh in on value of knowing without availability of effective treatments

When researchers recently announced a promising new blood test for Alzheimer's disease — one that could be as simple to perform as a standard cholesterol test — reactions were mixed. While some experts heralded the news, others worried that, until effective treatments are available, learning that you're likely to develop Alzheimer's could cause more harm than good.

To know or not to know

Experts say that developing a test for Alzheimer's allows for the possibility of more effective treatment. "The main problem with treating Alzheimer's disease today is that the medicines are probably given too late to do much good," says Howard Federoff, M.D., professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, who was part of the team that developed the test. "Our research reports a biomarker that will allow us to select patients who have very early disease, and we can determine if medicines are more effective when given earlier.

There's already good evidence that simple lifestyle changes can help slow the likelihood of developing dementia, says Jason Karlawish, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in developing the test. "A heart-healthy diet, physical activity, and social and cognitive stimulation can help preserve cognitive function," he says. People who learn that they are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's may be more motivated to make healthy changes.

Where Does It Hurt? Log On. The Doctor Is In

5-9-2014 National:

Telemedicine Sector Attracts Funding, But Some Physician Groups Worry About Quality of Care

Can downloading an app, and describing your symptoms to a doctor you'll never meet, take the place of an office visit? Can sending a "selfie" of your sore throat help diagnose strep?

Those are some of the issues state and federal regulators—and the medical profession itself—are wrestling with as telemedicine spreads rapidly.

More Web-based companies offer virtual medical exams where doctors in remote locations evaluate patients' symptoms online or by phone, develop a diagnosis and often write a prescription, usually in 15 minutes or less, for $40 to $50.

The companies say they provide a convenient, low-cost alternative to emergency-room visits and long waits at primary-care offices for minor medical issues. Three of the companies—Teladoc Inc., MDLIVE Inc. and American Well—hosted 400,000 to 500,000 doctor-patient interactions last year, more than double the number in 2011, according to the American Telemedicine Association, a trade group.

How Much Medicare Pays for Your Doctor’s Care

4-29-2014 National:

Use the form below to find a doctor or other medical professional among the more than 800,000 health care providers that received payments in 2012 from Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits, tests and other treatments. Payments may also cover overhead, such as staff salaries and drug costs. In some cases, when doctors work as salaried employees of group practices, the payments that show up under their names go to their institutions. ..Click for the Form.. by NYT (Source: The information presented here is from a database released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The database excluded, for privacy reasons, any procedures that a doctor performed on 11 or fewer patients. The total reimbursements for each doctor does not include those procedures either. Results shown above include only individuals like doctors, nurses or technicians but not organizations like Walgreens. While some providers could have multiple offices, the address shown is the main address indicated in the database. Descriptions of the medical procedures are from the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set, which is copyrighted by the American Medical Association. )