The states and territories that have medically needy programs are: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for “tired all the time”. At any given time, one in five people feels unusually tired, and one in 10 have prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Women tend to feel tired more often than men.

Categories of Individuals Eligible for Medically Needy Programs

States that choose to have medically needy programs may decide not to offer the medically needy option to all categories of Medicaid-eligible people. For example, a state might chose to offer the medically needy program to elderly but not disabled people. However, states that offer any medically needy programs must offer them to most children and pregnant women.

“Share of Cost” is the amount you agree to pay for health care before Medi-Cal starts to pay. This is called “meeting your share of cost.” Your Share of Cost is a set amount based on how much money you make. You only need to meet your
Share of Cost in the months that you get health care services. After you meet your share of cost, Medi-Cal pays for your care the rest of that month.

Anxiety is common, but how it affects the brain is, as yet, poorly understood. New research has revealed “anxiety cells,” which provides a fresh direction for research into new treatments.

Question: What can I do if I have a problem with my share of cost?

Reply: You can complain if you think that you have a problem with your share of cost:

• You should be getting free Medi-Cal, or
• Your Share of Cost is too high, or
• The county is not allowing you to use one of your bills to meet your Share of Cost.

 To Complain

1. Tell your Medi-Cal worker what the problem is and ask the worker
to explain in writing why you have the Share of Cost or why the
bill cannot be used to meet your Share of Cost. Also ask what law
Medi-Cal based its decision on.

2. Ask for a fair hearing. A fair hearing gives you the chance to
question Medi-Cal’s decision about your bill. Call 1-800-952-5253
to get a fair hearing. Calls to this number are free.

3. You can also ask to speak to your county worker’s supervisor. If
your problem gets fixed, you can always cancel the fair hearing

Hot tea is a staple beverage in winter time; it can help to keep us warm and soothe sore throats. It can give us that energy boost in the morning or help to relax us in the afternoon. However, a new study suggests that drinking hot tea may have serious negative consequences for some of us.

However, a recent study from Peking University in Beijing, China, has found that the temperature at which tea is consumed could affect health — particularly in certain groups already at risk of negative health outcomes.

Question: How much will my Share of Cost be?

Reply: The more money you make, the higher your Share of Cost is. You can complain if you think there is a mistake and your share of cost is too high.

Take control. Establish a regular “worry time”. Start by setting aside half an hour every day. Write down all your concerns in specific terms. For example: “I felt nauseated this morning. Do I have stomach cancer?” Assign a score on a scale of 0 to 100% to estimate how distressed this possibility makes you feel. Next, list all the possible explanations for your concern, then rank each one according to how likely it is to be correct. Make use of external sources if necessary, but stick with reputable websites and professionals. Finally, score your worry for the level of distress it is causing you now. Gradually, you will be able to reduce the amount and frequency of worry time.

A look at catastrophizing and how to stop it. Included is detail on the related psychiatric conditions, medical treatments, and the outlook. Here is one tip that may help.

Accept yourself. Anxiety is energy: if you are an anxious person, celebrate! However, why waste that energy feeling uncomfortable and preparing yourself for circumstances that will almost certainly never occur? Look for enjoyable ways to challenge yourself and use your energy more positively: taking regular aerobic exercise; learning something new; taking up a creative passion.

Question:  Are there medical eligibility requirements for IHSS?

Reply:  Yes, people with disabilities must meet Social Security’s medical eligibility criteria to qualify for IHSS.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden get to grips with the molecular basis of the saying “sound mind, sound body.” The key appears to be how muscles reduce levels of stress markers in the blood. Studies have shown that exercising not only promotes burning fat but also benefits the mind.

Even before science understood why, carrying out physical activity was already considered useful in reducing depressive symptoms for some people.

There are limitations on the number of hours provided per task that your care provide can do. For example, your care provider cannot spend more than 6 hours per month on domestic services or more than 1 hour per week shopping for food. If you can show that you need more time for a specific service, your county IHSS worker will see if additional hours can be authorized to meet your needs.

The GAO report shines a long-overdue light on Medicaid-funded assisted living. Federal funding of assisted living is large and growing, but to this point the federal government has not adequately ensured the quality of assisted living care. This lack of oversight has had tragic consequences for an unfortunately large number of older Americans. The GAO report was requested by a bipartisan group of senators, and its publication should prompt Congress and CMS to take action

After the needs assessment, IHSS will send you a letter called a Notice of Action that will let you know if you have been approved or denied services. If approved, you will be notified of the services and number of hours authorized for each service. If services are denied or you are not happy with the number of hours authorized, you have the right to appeal by requesting a State Hearing. The back of the Notice of Action has information about how to appeal.