Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, has introduced legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing and vision care.

Backers of the bill in the Commonwealth said adding the services could do a lot to keep older adults healthy.

Senate Bill 2618 would cover routine dental cleaning, eyeglasses, hearing exams and more. In many cases, older adults go without these services, particularly hearing aids, because of the cost.

Joanne Grossi, state president for AARP Pennsylvania, said it is time for Medicare to treat the whole person, head to toe.

“If you can’t have a conversation with someone, you’re obviously socially isolated; you can’t hear the phone ring,” Grossi observed. “It leads to increased isolation and depression, which ironically end up costing the health care system more money, and Medicare more money, because they’re leading to these detrimental health outcomes.”

Grossi spoke this week in Wilkes-Barre at a Special Committee on Aging hearing, which Sen. Casey chairs. Casey said he hopes the legislation is passed when the Senate is back in session as part of the budget reconciliation process. Some pushback is expected from lawmakers who will question the cost.

About 17% of older adults in the United States have lost all their teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kelly Ranieli, executive director of Volunteers in Medicine, which provides free medical, dental and behavioral health services to people who are uninsured or underinsured in Northeastern Pennsylvania, said some of their older patients need tooth extractions and dentures but often can’t afford either.

“Many have extreme difficulty eating solid food, which, you know, many are malnourished,” Ranieli explained. “To heal the entire well-being, medical, dental, and behavioral health care needs to be provided. I mean, everyone benefits from a healthy community.”

Medicare provides coverage to 2.8 million Pennsylvanians 65 and older or with chronic disabilities.

Hiring might have slowed in August in face of delta variant
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — A stretch of robust hiring over the past several months may have slowed in August at a time when the delta variant’s spread has discouraged some Americans from flying, shopping and eating out. Analysts have forecast that employers added 750,000 jobs in August. That would represent a substantial gain, though below the roughly 940,000 that were added in both June and July. Some economists are more pessimistic, expecting job growth to amount to 500,000 or fewer. But even many of those analysts expect any hiring slowdown to be brief. They note that many of the nation’s employers are still struggling to fill jobs to meet strengthened consumer demand.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) stresses the importance of sober driving and safe practices on the road ahead of the Labor Day holiday.

“As Labor Day weekend is a popular time for travel and celebrating, PennDOT is urging drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver if they are planning to drink,” said PennDOT District 11 Safety Press Officer Yasmeen Manyisha. “Also, please remember to buckle up. A seat belt is your first line of defense against an impaired driver.”

During the holiday period which runs through September 6, local and state law enforcement will target impaired drivers through enforcement details. Motorist found driving with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or over will be arrested.

Additionally, drivers are reminded alcohol consumption is not the only path leading to a DUI arrest. Law enforcement also work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication. Drug-impairment is just as dangerous on the road, which speaks to the importance of knowing how prescribed medications can affect your ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Both alcohol and drugs, legal and illegal, can impair a person’s judgement, balance, vision, and reaction time, as well as impact others on the road.

According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 2,698 crashes resulting in 39 fatalities statewide over the holiday week beginning Friday, September 4 at 6:00 p.m. and running through Sunday, September 13. Of those numbers, 231 crashes resulting in 12 fatalities were alcohol-related and 104 crashes resulting in three fatalities were drug-related.

PennDOT encourages motorists to always plan ahead by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation, and always buckling up. Wearing a seat belt is the best defense in the event of a crash.

For more information, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

(File Photo)

Story By Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Odell Mills, 41 of Aliquippa was involved in a vehicle pursuit by Police  eastbound on Kennedy Boulevard  in the city of Aliquippa Thursday Morning, September 2, 2021 around 9:37 AM.  According to Pa. State Police, who were dispatched  to assist Aliquippa Police, Mills  merged onto Monaca Road, and attempted to turn right onto 3rd Avenue in Plan 11 in Aliquippa.  A female, M. Russell, 47 of New Brighton was stopped in  her Jeep Grand Cherokee at a stop sign when Mills turned and  struck her vehicle.   Mills then placed his vehicle in reverse and backed into the responding Trooper’s patrol car. At that point Mills exited his vehicle and fled  northeast  onto  Monaca Road, jumped down into  a deep culvert , and was apprehended a short time later. Russell was taken by  Medic Rescue  to  Heritage Valley, Beaver  for her injuries.