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Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
Administrator’s Corner
Happy New Year! Another amazing year is upon us.
We are looking forward to a great 2015. This year
marks the three year anniversary of the “I-Care”
customer service program. It has been a big success
and we will continue with the program.
I encourage you to continue awarding I-CARE tokens
to those staff members who are going above and
beyond for your loved ones.
The facility staff continues to work very hard for “Our
Residents, Our Customers.” As always, if you have
any concerns or comments, please don’t hesitate to
contact me or drop by my office.
Medicaid Managed Care
Expansion
Starting March 1, 2015, nursing home residents
[email protected]
Cody D. Holloway, M.Ed., LNFA, ACHA
who are covered by Medicaid and who are
eligible for STAR+PLUS will get their basic
health services (acute care) and long-term care
services through STAR+PLUS managed care.
The current fee for service payment structure
will be eliminated.
MNRC Partners with
Bay City I.S.D. for 2015
In addition, people who get both Medicaid and
Medicare (dual eligible) will get their basic health
services through Medicare and their long-term
care services through STAR+PLUS Medicaid.
Managed care organizations (MCOs) began
contracting with nursing homes in July 2014.
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
has partnered with Bay City I.S.D. for another
year to offer a Certified Nurse Aide class on the
campus of Bay City High School. Beginning
January 6, 2015, Assistant Director of Nursing,
Boni Powell, LVN will be teaching this class on
the high school campus. The students in the
class will complete their clinical training here at
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
We are very excited that Bay City I.S.D.
continued the partnership with MNRC.
Providers must have current Medicaid
certification status and a current license to be
eligible to contract with STAR+PLUS MCOs.
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
(MNRC) will be hosting an enrollment night on
Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 6:30 PM.
Please mark your calendars and make every
attempt to be here.
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
16 ounce(s) Container of Coolwhip
8 ounce(s) Cream Cheese Softened
1 cup(s) Sugar
2 box (es) Lemon Instant Pudding (Regular
Size, Made to Directions) Refrigerated
Salon Services
The MNRC salon is open every Wednesday
starting about 9:00 AM. If your loved one needs
a haircut, trim, etc…..please let us know. Make
sure he/she has money in his/her trust account.
If your loved one does not have a trust account,
we would be more than happy to hold money for
the beautician, Janel Duran.
OraQuest Family Night
MNRC will host a family night information
meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at
6:30 PM.
There will be a representative here speaking
about the dental program that’s available to
residents.
Recipe of the Month
Preparation
Making 4 layers in a 9 x 13 glass dish
1st layer - butter, flour and 3/4 cup pecans
mixed together and pressed into the bottom of
glass dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 min
until light brown. COOL completely.
2nd layer - cream cheese, sugar and 1 cup Cool
Whip. Blend until creamy and spread over 1st
layer.
3rd layer - Lemon pudding (made to box
directions) spread evenly over 2nd layer.
4th layer - extra Cool Whip spread evenly over
3rd layer and topped with remaining pecans.
Cover and refrigerate for several hours before
serving
Lemon Lush
Ingredients
1 stick(s) Melted Butter
1 cup(s) Flour
1 1/2 cup(s) Pecans (Reserve 3/4 cup for
Topping) Chopped
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
January Birthdays
Medical Tidbits
Everything You Need
to Know About
Medicare Changes for
2015
Millions face increases to their existing
premium for prescription drugs
Residents
Charles Dodson
Jan 2nd
Georgie Knight
Jan 7th
Donna Sparks
Jan 11th
Joe Faye Deshotels
Jan 19th
Eva Joyce Henry
Jan 21st
Millions of Medicare recipients could be hit with
rising prescription drug premium costs in 2015.
Nearly 10 million people now enrolled in six of
the 10 largest Part D drug plans face premium
increases ranging from 11 to 52 percent if they
don't switch to a different plan. Three other large
plans, with nearly 3.5 million members, will drop
their premiums by 13 to 31 percent.
The numbers — from Avalere Health, a
company that tracks health care trends — come
as a sharp reminder that all of Medicare's private
plans can change their costs and benefits every
year. Open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 5 to
MNRC Staff
Dec. 7, gives Medicare beneficiaries the chance
Rebecca Brito
Jan 4th
to find the best deals for next year by comparing
coverage and out-of-pocket costs in their current
Michelle White
Jan 12th
Eric Fletcher
Jan 26th
plans — whether Part D drug plans or Medicare
Advantage HMOs and PPOs — with what other
plans offer. The Medicare Part B premium,
which covers doctor visits and outpatient
services and is currently $104.90 a month for
most beneficiaries, will remain the same in 2015.
It's especially important, experts say, to look
beyond premiums to copays.
"You could be in a drug plan in 2014 where your
copay is maybe $50 and then for 2015 the plan
has increased that amount to $100," says
Christine Harhaj, Avalere's senior manager. "So
does it still make sense for you to be in that
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
plan? Or does it mean it's time to shop around
rich plans offered in one competitive area of
and see what else is out there and whether you
Miami in 2014, none charged a health
can get your drugs at a lower price?"
deductible; of the 35 plans available there in
2015, six will charge deductibles of between
Copays differ enormously among Part D plans,
$500 and $975. In this same area, 30 plans
even for the same drug —and can vary by more
offered extra help in the prescription drug
than $100 for a month's supply, according to an
AARP Bulletin analysis. For example, among 31
coverage gap, known as the doughnut hole, in
plans in California, the insulin drug Lantus
Such shifts make it all the more important to
SoloSTAR will cost between $24 and $170 for a
compare plans. "Shopping around is the best
30-day supply in 2015 — with 14 plans charging
thing a Medicare beneficiary can do," says
under $45 a month and eight plans charging
Avalere's Harhaj. "There's still so much choice in
over $80.
the market."
2014; next year, none will.
Beneficiaries should compare plans according to
the drugs they take, by using the plan finder
at medicare.gov (which automatically does the
math to identify the plans that cover your drugs
at the lowest cost), or by calling Medicare at
Heaven’s New Angels
800-633-4227. For those who switch plans, the
new coverage begins Jan. 1. Those who do
nothing will see their current plans continue into
2015.
Medicare Advantage plans — private plans that
offer benefits beyond those of traditional
Medicare — will receive somewhat lower
government payments in 2015, due to
the Affordable Care Act. That move prompted
speculation that more plans would withdraw
from Medicare or reduce benefits. A few have
withdrawn in rural counties, and none has been
available in Alaska since 2012, but overall the
program remains robust, Medicare officials say.
"Enrollment is now at an all-time high and
premiums have fallen," says Medicare's
administrator, Marilyn Tavenner.
Mary Cruz
Still, there are signs that some Medicare
Advantage plans are shifting other costs to
Kathy Handley
enrollees, sometimes in novel ways. For
example, plans charging annual deductibles for
health services have been rare in the past but
now seem to be on the rise. Of the 39 benefit-
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
CHRISTMAS 2014
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com
Matagorda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
January 2015 Newsletter
“Our Residents, Our Customers”
MNRC LEADERSHIP TEAM
Cody D. Holloway, M.Ed.……….…Administrator
Vickie Piwonka, RN…….…….Director of Nurses
Beatrice Hawes, LVN.....Asst. Director of Nurses
Vanessa Littleton, LVN..Asst. Director of Nurses
Bonnie Powell, LVN……Asst. Director of Nurses
Tonya Piwonka, LVN…….Marketing/Admissions
Zoila Luna…………..…Business Office Manager
Dana Horton………………….....Medical Records
Rod Eatherly, LBSW………….….Social Services
Beverly Boudreaux.…………….Activity Director
Deanna Nevarez……………...Dietary Supervisor
Paula Vela……………….HK/Laundry Supervisor
Ric Campos………….... Director of Maintenance
4521 Ave F, Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-7369 Email: [email protected]
www.matagordanr.com