CRANFORD – In colleges and universities nationwide, basketball teams are promoting and supporting breast cancer awareness during the month of February. Union County College is participating and is hosting a “Play 4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness” event. Both teams will be selling Breast Cancer Awareness bracelets for $3 each. All proceeds from the bracelet sale will be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

The Men’s Basketball team will wear pink during their home game on Feb. 14, against Gloucester. The game will begin at 7 p.m. The Women’s team, the Lady Owls, will wear pink during their home game on Feb. 21, against ASA. The game will begin at 6 p.m.

Bracelets will be on sale at both games. Entrance to the games is free. The college’s gym is located on the Cranford campus at 1033 Springfield Avenue. Parking is also free.

James J. Devine, a prominent New Jersey Democrat, said new regulations published pursuant to President Barack Obama's signature health reform law will require insurance companies to provide consumers with materials in plain language that will allow people to understand what they can expect for their premium dollars.

RAHWAY — Democrat James J. Devine said new regulations published pursuant to the Affordable Care Act – President Barack Obama’s signature health reform law – will require insurance companies to provide consumers with clear, understandable and straightforward information about coverage and costs.

“For many years, complex legal documents were routinely issued with policies, leaving consumers confused about what they were buying,” said Devine. “Such convoluted marketing materials provided by insurance companies often made it difficult for consumers to understand what health plans covered, what limitations or conditions apply, and what patients would pay for services.”

Devine said the new rules, published jointly by the federal departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor and Treasury, require insurers to provide concise and comprehensible information about benefits and coverage to the millions of Americans with private health coverage.

“The new rules will also make it easier for people and employers to directly compare one plan to another,” said Devine.

“All consumers, for the first time, will really be able to clearly comprehend the sometimes confusing language insurance plans often use in marketing,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “This will give them a new edge in deciding which plan will best suit their needs and those of their families or employees.”

Specifically, the new regulations finalize rules proposed in August 2011 and will ensure consumers have access to two key documents that will help them understand and evaluate their health insurance choices:

• A short, easy-to-understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC); and
• A uniform glossary of terms commonly used in health insurance coverage, such as “deductible” and “co-payment.”

All health plans and insurers will provide an SBC to shoppers and enrollees at important points in the enrollment process, such as upon application and at renewal.

A key feature of the SBC is a new, standardized plan comparison tool called “coverage examples,” similar to the Nutrition Facts label required for packaged foods.

The coverage examples will illustrate sample medical situations and describe how much coverage the plan would provide in an event such as having a baby (normal delivery) or managing Type II diabetes (routine maintenance, well-controlled).

“These examples will help consumers make informed buying decisions so they understand each plan they may be considering and they can get what they pay for,” said Devine.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 3.6 million people with Medicare saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs in 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act according to data issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“The Affordable Care Act is already saving money for millions of Americans with Medicare,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “As we move forward, we will close the donut hole completely and save even more money for everyone with Medicare.”

The Affordable Care Act provides a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and this year, a 14% discount on generics. Last year, it provided a seven percent discount on covered generic medications for people who hit the prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole last year, with 2,814,646 beneficiaries receiving $32.1 million in savings on generics.

In 2011, the 3.6 million Americans who hit the donut hole saved an average of $604 on the cost of their prescription drugs.

Data also show that women especially benefited from the law’s provision with 2.05 million women saving $1.2 billion on their prescription drugs.

By 2020, the donut hole will be closed completely. The report released this month by the Department of Health and Human Services finds that this provision and other features of the health reform law will generate substantial savings for people with Medicare. Typical Medicare beneficiaries will save an average of nearly $4,200 from 2011 to 2021. People with high prescription drug costs could save as much as $16,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Frank Lautenberg reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that women have access to the full range of preventative health services covered under the Affordable Care Act, including birth control.

As a counterpoint to House Speaker John Boehner’s vow to legislate away regulations on universal access to birth control, Lautenberg was one of five Senate Democrats standing up for the Obama administration’s ruling that mandates that employers cover the full range of reproductive health services in their insurance policies with no co-pay, with a narrow religious exemption and conscience protections.

“Women in this country have a right to expect affordable, quality health care but those rights are under attack,” by what Lautenberg called “a Male-a-garchy,” rejuvenating term the Democratic lawmaker coined nine years ago while combating another intrusion by men on the right of women to make their own reproductive choices.

Joining Lautenberg in defense of birth control were Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

A top women’s campaign group also asked supporters to tell the White House to stand strong on these provisions.

“We need your help right now,” said EMILYs List President Stephanie Shriock. “Right wing extremists are up in arms, deluging the White House with messages telling President Obama to reverse his (correct!) decision to ensure that all women have access to contraception, without a copay, no matter where they work.”

The Affordable Care Act guarantees access to birth control, defining it as a preventive health benefit that must be provided by insurance companies. Those provisions do not apply to health insurance policies provided to employees by religious institutions, they do control other businesses — such as hospitals and universities — owned by ecclesiastical entities.

Edward Cardinal Egan, the Archbishop-emeritus of New York, said President Obama and his administration is forcing religious institutions to provide sterilization or abortion-inducing drugs to employees, but advocates argue the government is only requiring that employers, be they religious or not, to afford workers the choice to use contraceptives.

Lautenberg said 90 percent of American women use or have used some form of birth control, and he noted that “it can be very expensive.”

NEW BRUNSWICK — NJ Blood Services (NJBS), a division of The New York Blood Center (NYBC), and Rutgers University (RU), will once again partner for the annual campus wide blood drive in an attempt to break a previous record of 874 pints, and the highest number of single-day blood donations on a New Jersey college campus.

Students, faculty, alumni and community residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves and donate on Tuesday, February 14th from 3 to 9pm, at one of several campus locations, including the College Avenue Recreation Center, Sonny Werblin Recreation Center on the Busch Campus, the Livingston Recreation Center and the Cook/Douglas Gym.

Tagged as a “Pint for a Pint” blood drive, the first 200 donors at each site will receive a “RU pint glass,” and all donors will receive Thomas Sweets ice cream after they donate. In addition, a $2.00 donation will be made for each pint of blood collected to Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH).

“Rutgers University has always been significant in donating to our blood supply,” said NJBS Director of Recruitment & Donor Retention Marie Forrestal. “We commend their efforts in supporting our need for blood and urge residents of the nearby communities to join them and donate at one of the campus locations on February 14th.”

New Jersey Blood Services, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, says that the need for blood has increased beyond expectations.

“Every day in the U.S. approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities to treat patients with cancer and other diseases, to support organ transplant recipients and accident and trauma victims,” noted Forrestal. “Everyone has an obligation to donate blood, at least once a year and Rutgers University is certainly doings its part to meet the need.”

Eligible donors should be 17 years of age, or 16 with parental permission, show photo or signed ID, weigh 110 pounds, and be in good health. Persons with questions of medical eligibility should call 1-800-BLOOD (2566) or log onto the website at www.nybloodcenter.org

STATE – Last week, the state Department of Health and Senior Services launched a website that allows the public to examine inspection reports for 260 licensed or certified ambulatory surgery centers. In the future, the website will include inspection reports and quality data for other licensed health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Ambulatory surgery centers perform procedures that require less than a 24-hour stay in a health care facility. Common surgery center procedures include colonoscopy screenings, cosmetic surgery and eye, knee and shoulder surgery.

“We are giving consumers easy access to more information so they are empowered to make more informed health care choices,” said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd. “Inspection reports are another tool that consumers can use when making health care decisions.”

“I commend Commissioner O’Dowd for her efforts to improve patient safety,” said state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex), Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

Consumers can search the DHSS website at www.nj.gov/health/healthfacilities/asc_info.shtml for a specific facility or facilities within a region of the state and review and compare inspection reports for the past three years. They can also view corrective action plans—where appropriate—that surgery centers have filed with the Department to rectify any deficiencies found during inspections.

Inspections look at whether a facility met state or federal standards on things like infection control, medication management, staffing, record keeping, patient rights and maintaining sterile equipment. Facilities cited for deficiencies must submit a plan of correction to the Department within 10 days detailing how problems will be corrected.

“Inspection reports offer a snapshot in time,” said O’Dowd. “Consumers should bear in mind that a facility’s deficiencies may have been corrected by the time a consumer views the report online. But, inspection reports serve as a valuable tool for consumers to discuss with their health care providers or with a facility they are considering using.”

Inspections of Ambulatory Surgery Centers are conducted every three years for compliance with state standards and every four years for compliance with federal regulations. Inspections are also done in response to complaints.

Vitale is currently trying to shepherd a bill through the Legislature to expand the oversight and inspection of one-room surgical practices. “I look forward to continue to work with the Commissioner to re-tool my legislation to ensure single-room surgery facilities are inspected and their inspection reports are made public as well,” he said.

The bill, S-1210, would make changes to the law governing regulation and licensing of health care facilities in New Jersey. By bringing all health care facilities under the umbrella of licensure, the bill would ensure that single-room surgical practices are held to the same patient safety standards as surgical practices with two rooms.

“This legislation is about patient health and safety,” said Vitale “As the practice of medicine advances and more and more procedures can be done on a same-day basis right in a physician’s office it’s imperative that we know care is being provided in a safe and sanitary environment.”

A similar bill was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly in the last legislative session and was pocket vetoed by the Governor.

Raritan Bay Medical Center Senior Business Partner, Nurse Recruiter Kathryn McLay, RN, left, takes the blood pressure of an unidentified woman at the Old Bridge Town Hall during the medical center’s Go Red for Women events. (Photo courtesy of RBMC)

PERTH AMBOY–As part of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s (RBMC) community outreach efforts in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s National Go Red for Women campaign, the medical center provided free blood pressure screenings and stroke information to the public on National Go Red day Feb. 3 at 13 Middlesex County locations including YMCAs and select area banks and businesses.

“Too many women die or become disabled each year from stroke and heart disease, the number three and number one killers of women,” said registered nurse Mirian Medina, coordinator of RBMC’s stroke center, “As proud supporters of the National Go Red for Women movement, we want to spread the word to women about living heart healthy and getting regular heart screenings.”

Registered nurse Mirian Medina, coordinator of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s stroke center, in red, takes the blood pressure of a woman at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA in Perth Amboy during the medical center’s Go Red for Women events. (Photo courtesy of RBMC)

The events were held at eight local YMCAs; Raritan Bay Area (in Perth Amboy), Sayreville, Old Bridge, Woodbridge, South Amboy, Metuchen, East Brunswick and Edison and at the Old Bridge Town Hall and Northfield Bank, Sovereign Bank, and the Vitto Mazza Salon in Woodbridge and the Medical Pavilion at Woodbridge in Iselin.

Medina told visitors at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA, “The acronym FAST can be a very helpful reminder of how to identify stroke, so remember these tips:
F is for facial drooping. Your face feels numb or frozen, especially on one side.
A is for arm weakness, especially on one side.
S is for speech problems. You can’t speak or understand properly.
T is for time to call 911; the faster you get treatment, the less damage to your brain.

Phone 911 or have someone call an ambulance for you immediately, even if your symptoms disappear. Also, be aware that women are more likely than men to report unusual stroke symptoms, such as sudden nausea or pain in the face, arm, or leg.”

RBMC has a strong commitment to promoting stroke awareness and providing optimal care for stroke patients, evidenced by the medical center’s designation as a New Jersey Primary Stroke Center and its Silver Get with the GuidelinesSM achievement award from the American Heart Association

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Bob Menendez were joined by 24 of their Senate colleagues in calling on Nancy Brinker, Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to reconsider her organization’s decision to stop funding cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood.

“For the past five years, grants to local affiliates of Planned Parenthood have been an important part of Planned Parenthood’s work to protect women from breast cancer,” the Senators wrote. “Komen funding for Planned Parenthood has provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and resulted in 6,400 referrals for mammograms.”

“It would be tragic if any woman—let alone thousands of women— lost access to these potentially life-saving screenings because of a politically motivated attack,” the Senators wrote.

According to a statement from the Komen Foundation, the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood was made because of “more stringent eligibility standards” designed “to safeguard donor dollars.”

“We regret that these new policies have impacted some longstanding grantees, such as Planned Parenthood, but want to be absolutely clear that our grant-making decisions are not about politics,” said the statement from the Komen Foundation. “Throughout our 30 year history, our priority has always been and will continue to be the women we serve. As we move forward, we are working to ensure that there is no interruption or gaps in services for the women who need our support most in the fight against breast cancer.”

Komen grants provided Planned Parenthood with roughly $650,000 in funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education last year. Other donors have already made pledges that would nearly cover the shortfall.

Members of the faculty of the Trinitas School of Nursing are pictured with the certificate from the National League for Nursing designating the School as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. (Photo courtesy of Trinitas)

ELIZABETH–The Trinitas School of Nursing has received its second consecutive designation as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN). This honor, a continuation of the NLN’s highest award for nursing education excellence, is in effect for the years 2011 – 2015. Previously, the school had been designated as a NLN Center of Excellence for the years 2008-2011.

The sixth largest school of nursing in the United States, Trinitas is the first hospital-based nursing school in the country to receive the NLN Center of Excellence designation.

“This is the highest honor a nursing school can achieve, and it represents the ultimate stamp of quality,” stated Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas Regional Medical Center. He added, “I couldn’t be more proud of our school’s faculty and administration for their success in creating such an outstanding learning environment.”

In 2007, the school was the first in the United States to have 100 percent of its eligible faculty certified with the NLN Certification in Nursing Education (CNE) credential.

Trinitas School of Nursing was established as the Elizabeth General Hospital School of Nursing in 1891, and has maintained a formal Cooperative Nursing Program with Union County College since 1972. The program offers a diploma in nursing from Trinitas School of Nursing and an associate in science degree from Union County College.

Victor M. Richel, who serves as chairman of the board of both Trinitas Regional Medical Center and Union County College, said, “The Trinitas School of Nursing is attracting thousands of highly qualified people into the nursing profession, and is fulfilling a crucial role as it provides an invaluable supply of nurses for our community and region.” He added, “I am particularly proud of the excellent working relationship that exists between Trinitas and Union County College, which has resulted in tremendous benefits to our student nurses over the years.”

STATE — In its ongoing effort to elevate public awareness about cardiovascular, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement is teaming up with Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks to share the truth about the No. 1 killer of women.

More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. Additionally stroke is the No. 4 leading cause of death of women and the No. 1 cause of long-term disability. That’s why Go Red For Women is asking the New Jersey women to participate in the 9th Annual National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 3, to make ending heart disease a reality.

“Heart disease causes the death of one woman every minute,” said Dr. Jacqueline Hollywood, a board-certified cardiologist and partner at The Advanced Cardiology Institute in Fort Lee. “That’s why it’s so important to understand and modify your personal risk factors and be aware of overlooked common symptoms. Plus you need to share that information with the women you love.”

Currently some eight million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. In fact, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.

Go Red For Women is asking women to take action by participating in this year’s National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 3. Women can wear red in support of the cause, learn more about their personal risk of heart disease, get involved with local events and register for a free red dress pin at GoRedForWomen.org or Facebook.com/Go Red.

Banks directed and starred in the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women new public service announcement and short film, “Just a Little Heart Attack,” inspired by the real-life stories of women who have been affected by heart disease. The entertaining, yet poignant film, which can be viewed on Facebook.com/Go Red, provides a powerful wake-up call to women across America to understand their risk for heart disease and empower them to put their health first.

“While the film is funny, having a heart attack is not something to be laughed at,” said Banks. “However, I’m using humor to help uncover the truth about heart disease, to get people interested in learning more about their hearts and our movement.”

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.