Banner Graphic, Volume 20, Number 178, Greencastle, Putnam County, 3 April 1990 — Page 5

To youngsters with special needs Early childhood services offered free

Early intervention services are provided by Putnam County Comprehensive Services (PCCS) free of charge to children aged 0-5 who have special needs. An Infant/Toddler Stimulation Program and a Preschool Program are available to children and their families. The Infant Program at PCCS serves developmentally delayed children from birth to age three. Children are considered to be “at risk” of developmental delays when a medical condition exists which in itself might pose a problem for the child physically or medically—such conditions as cerebral palsy, autism, brain injury or conditions such as Spina Bifida or Down’s Syndrome. CHILDREN MAY also be considered for entrance into the PCCS Infant Program when an environmental condition exists in the home which might be detrimental to the child’s overall growth emotionally or socially— such conditions might be an abusive parent, alcoholism, very poor physical environment, or even a young adolescent mother. Frequently drugs and alcohol consititute a major concern for the possibility of future failure in school or early developmental delays in the

Understand those Medicare changes? PCH offering help

The recent repeal of Medicare Catastrophic Insurance has left many people questioning what their coverage is for hospital stays. Deductibles have increased and the length of hospitalization has been reduced in the revision of the Medicare program. But the elimination of the catastrophic coverage does not cause a catastrophe for most Medicare patients. BETTER MEDICAL technology has caused the average hospital stay of Medicare patients to decrease in recent years, said Sue Murray, director of Social Services at Putnam County Hospital. The shorter stays have allowed the Medicare-allotted days to be reduced without eliminating needed care. Also, Medicare’s prospective payment plan has put a limit on the reimbursement for hospital stays, she said. For example, medical procedures such as appendectomies are allotted a certain Medicare reimbursement per patient. Those limits encourage hospitals to treat a patient as efficiendy and effectively as possible since staying within those reimbursement limits reduces the facilities’ loss of operating income. PCH HAS RECEIVED several inquiries about the Medicare changes since the first of the year, Mrs.

r~ OLD TIME MEAT & DELI SjHOPPE rnf—H chuck roast $ 1.49 V/rl 9 M Hickory Smoked tHnnn or Tuna Salad 3.79 -b BACON 10 lb 10.90 lb” POTATO SALAD 790 lb. Fresh 4BEANSALAD $ 1.59 #>■ 309 E. Franklin St. CHICKEN BREAST OQQ OUR GUARANTEE 1 ■■VmilSiSS V Greencastie. 653-2159 J QUARTERS *1.3911). | 0 101 b. yT mmg .Ml.- ...I. I I ' REPLACE -, tree*/ jCL" STORE HOURS fUfrl t AND REFUND 12pk.7 H X? _ 7 a.m.-n p.m. Daily W W _ -J French $-. CQ ISS3MJS p 0 ° . no ™ lerite Breadsticks 1-69 m PEPSICOLA SAUSAGE lib Chops I, b Pork Chops Zib Iced Brownies 2/690 Assthavors so oft SB «<““ 0.09 UMAIIMMMMMAIAiHHIIBfIIHHHH 2 int I CAN’T BELIEVE ® 1 All Ready 3-5/rc' W 1 - 19 W 890 #1 *1 .89 Ba 990 W Products wnmmmammpzzzzzzMmmmmmmm Sc, 59c. “™» 33C •'* §, B SSL as*™. 1“ g 49cMlh29 ® Wisconsin ioib. QQ^ h J.T.M. ioib. slfi Qfi *»> DIAPERS Russett Potatoes BEEF PATTIES box lU.yU'- 1 Lg. ultra ct 32 or med. uttra 44 cl SYL VANIA SOFT 40.6Q.75, *" h $Q 49 WHITE LIGHT BULBS 100WUpk - yyC c,rt f § \ BOUNCE 36CL standard $H QQ Joy " mt FABRIC SOFTENER I .OP £ W Dish Liquid / L / - JH Assorted Flavors QQ* with H $ 1 89 VESSSODA mSS oyp -

young child. In 1983 Putnam County Comprehensive Services Inc. then known as the Learning Center, began to serve infant children (birth to age three) from the three counties of Hendricks, Morgan and Putnam under a state grant. Presently, PCCS serves more than 132 infants and toddlers yearly in four counties with five instructors with offices in Morgan, Hendricks and Putnam counties. (Owen County children are served out of the Putnam office.) The Infant Program works with young children in their own home where guidance is given to parents on developmental areas of growth. Instruction is provided FREE of charge. Referrals to the program can come from a parent, doctor, hospital or other social service agency. PROFESSIONAL Infant Department staff is under the direction of Phyllis T. Junker, a special educator with degrees in speech and hearing, neurologically impaired, blind, mental retardation and learning disabilities. “Many times parents are at a loss when told their child has a severe medical or physical problem,”

Murray said. The hospital has released the following information to help Medicare recipients understand those changes. As of Jan. 1, the Medicare deductible increased S2B to $592. Medicare hospital coverage in 1989 called for payment of an annual $564 deductible, no matter how many times a person was hospitalized. The 1990 hospital coverage, however, calls for the $592 deductible each time a person is admitted tojhe hospital. In 1989, an unlimited number of days were covered by Medicare. The 1990 plan calls for 90 days of coverage per “spell of illness” and 60 lifetime reserve days. The lifetime reserve days are like a bank of extra days a patient can use just once in case hospitalization is needed beyond the 90-day limit. IN THE 1989 coverage, hospital patients paid no co-insurance, such as Medicare Supplemental Insurance or out-of-pocket expense. That changed slightly in 1990. Now, patients pay no co-in-surance, but only up to the 60th day of their in-patient stay. From the 61st to 90th day, patients must pay $l4B per day. The 91st to 150th day call for $296 per day. Coverage for skilled nursing facilities has also changed.

Junker comments. “The parents want help but do not know where to go. PCCS can help any infant or toddler who has special needs. Our program is here to help the young child in his home community.” Junker relates the story of one family who was told by doctors that their spina bifada child would be a “vegetable”— unable to ever function physically or mentally in any productive way. ‘Through constant care and a loving environment within the family setting, our program helped this child to develop into a spunky, verbally active, intelligent child who looks forward to all his tomorrows with hope.” PCCS ALSO OFFERS a Developmental Preschool Program for both handicapped and nonhandicapped children between 3 and 5 years of age. The handicapped children are diagnosed at age 3 through the Department of Mental Health to be eligible for this program by either having a physical or mental disability. The preschool program is located at the First Baptist Church in Greencastie. Mary Jane Scamahom, who earned a M.S. degree in special

No prior hospitalization was required in 1989 and 150 days per calendar year were covered. Also, from the first to eighth day, the patient paid co-insurance of $25.50 per day. THE 1990 MEDICARE coverage requires a patient to be hospitalized for three days prior to entering a skilled nursing facility. Only 100 days per “spell of illness” are covered and co-insurance costs $74 per day from the 21st to the 100th day. Home health care coverage has also changed for people who are home-bound and in need of a skilled nursing services on a regular basis. The 1989 coverage allowed for care every day of the week for up to 38 consecutive days. The 1990 Medicare coverage allows up to 21 consecutive days of care if it is needed five days or more per week. Once home health care is needed less than four days per week, care can be provided for an unlimited number of days. NO MEDICARE coverage exists for respite services, screening mammography, home intravenous drug therapy, or prescription drugs. For more information, persons may contact the hospital’s business office or the social services department at 653-5121.

education with emphasis in speech and hearing therapy and mental retardation, serves as preschool program director. Scamahom is responsible for the coordination and implementation of activities in three preschool classrooms. Presently 26 children are enrolled in the program. Preschool provides children with individual programming in the areas of; gross motor, fine motor, language, cognitive skills and social skills. Children requiring specific therapies may be provided quarterly evaluation using die Early Learning Accomplishment Profile, and evaluation tool that assesses the degree of the child’s development. New goals are established to provide optimun progress for each child. Parent interaction with the preschool is encouraged to assist the preschool staff in the personal and developmental assessment of the individual child. ANYONE WHO HAS a child or knows of a child who may be suitable for referral to the PCCS Preschool Program may do so by contacting Mary Jane Scamahom at 653-3136.

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April 3,1990 THE BANNERGRAPHIC

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