OWL ALERT March 6: ONLINE BRIEFING ON LAGUNA HONDA HISTORY AND CURRENT CHALLENGES

THE STORY AND FATE
OF LAGUNA HONDA
presented by former SF City Attorney, LOUISE RENNE

SITUATION: Located on a 62 acre campus, Laguna Honda has been serving seniors and adults with disabilities since 1866. A century and a half later, it remains a civic icon, representing San Francisco’s tradition of service to the underserved–and is gravely threatened by the actions of CMS.

ACTION: San Francisco Interfaith Council is hosting a virtual meeting with featured speaker, former SF City Attorney Louise Renne, to educate participants about both the history and current challenges of this crucial institution.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.

ZOOM REGISTRATION LINK
(Follow the link below to register for the call. SFIC is taking
this extra step to model best practices for holding virtual meetings).
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvdumqqzkqHdQ-wubmMW3xW3avG5Jb2iTV

(if you experience issues opening the link,
please copy and paste the link into your browser bar or change browser)

For more information, go to San Francisco Interfaith Council, Events,
https://www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org/sfic-online-briefing-storyfate-laguna-honda-louise-renne

OWLSF/CARA ALERT February 28: TELL SPEAKER MCCARTHY, HANDS OFF MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY Rally March 17

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION to
PROTECT, IMPROVE AND EXPAND
MEDICARE, MEDICAID & SOCIAL SECURITY

 

SITUATION:  Republicans claim Social Security,  Medicare and Medicaid are “off the table” but their plans to weaken and privatize these valuable programs are far from over. Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, is a well known supporter of privatization and spending reduction on each of these crucial resources for older Americans.
 
ACTION: A National Day of Action, sponsored by CARA, is scheduled for Friday March 17 at Congressman McCarthy’s office in Bakersfield.
 
Join the national rally to tell Congressman McCarthy that older Americans are not buying it.
 
Buses to Bakersfield will be picking up supporters from all over the state. In San Francisco, the bus will load at the Main branch of San Francisco Public Library on Fulton and Larkin at 7 a.m. and load for the return trip at 3 to 3:15 p.m. Buses will also be leaving from the North, East and South Bay, as well as other parts of the state.
 
Click HERE to reserve your spot on a bus taking you to the NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION, or contact CARA Executive Director, Jodi Reid at (415) 515-2156, Jreid.cara@gmail.com
 
A rally and demonstration will start at 2:00 pm at:
Congressman McCarthy’s office
4100 Empire drive, suite 150
Bakersfield, CA
 
Participants will meet at 12:30 pm at:
Yokuts Park 
4200 Empire Dr.
Bakersfield, CA

OWL ALERT February 8: KEEP FIGHTING FOR LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL

SITUATION: Despite the recent reprieve in discharges from Laguna Honda, discharges are set to start again on May 19.  Past forced discharges have not only been heartbreaking but deadly due to transfer trauma of fragile residents who consider Laguna Honda their home. 

Important issues remain. Laguna Honda is still at risk for loss of 1/3 of its beds due to new CMS regulations. Laguna Honda is also still under threat of closure if recertification isn’t achieved by Nov. 13, 2023.

ACTION: Email, call, or write to Xavier Becerra-Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, including CMS.

  • Laguna Honda Hospital must stay open for San Franciscans in need.
  • No forced discharges.  Discharge and appeal rights of patients must be honored.
  • The City must be allowed to apply for a waiver from CMS’s 2-bed per room requirement.
  • No 120-bed reduction in light of San Francisco’s severe shortage of Medi-Cal beds and appropriate Skilled Nursing beds.

Also: Please share this message with colleagues, friends and family.

Xavier Becerra:

Email: xavier.becerra@hhs.gov
Call: 1(877) 696-6775
Write:
200 Independence Avenue, S.W
Washington, D.C. 20201

OWL ALERT January 29: CELEBRATE TRANSIT EQUITY DAY

“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars, it’s where the rich use public transportation.”—Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogotá

RIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORATION
REDUCES CARBON EMISSIONS SIGNIFICANTLY

SITUATION: Saturday, February 4 is national Transit Equity Day.

SITUATION: Environmental organization 350 Bay Area is celebrating Transit Equity Day and raising awareness of public transit by distributing “I RIDE TRANSIT” sitckers to be worn on outer garments, encouraging riders to be proud and visible in their communities.

ACTION: Contact OWLSF (info@owlsf.org; (415) 712-1695) to request a sticker to wear or stickers to distribute–AND WEAR THE STICKERS.

ACTION: Come to Union Square on February 4th to help 350 Bay Area distribute stickers—Geary and Stockton, 5 p.m.

ACTIONRide public transit—especially if you usually DRIVE.

ACTION: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues.

OWL ALERT January 19: FIGHT PROFITEERING IN MEDICARE

SITUATION: Through the ACO REACH  operational structure of Medicare commercial insurance companies (as well as other profit-driven entities) are being allowed to “manage” the care of millions of Americans who signed up for Traditional Medicare.

Many of these “bad actors” have a documented history of harming patients or taxpayers, as well as a business model that financially rewards them for denying care. Their inclusion in REACH demonstrates that the program is fundamentally flawed, and should be cancelled.

ACTION: Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) has scheduled a webinar called Exposing the Profiteers Behind Medicare REACH, to be held Thursday, January 26th at 6 p.m. Learn how the Protect Medicare coalition is responding to the launch of the program; and how YOU can stand up to these profiteers and save Medicare for future generations. Register HERE for the webinar.

ACTION: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues.

Physicians for a National Health Program
29 E Madison St Ste 1412 | Chicago, Illinois 60602
312-782-6006 | info@pnhp.org

OWL ANNOUNCEMENT: WE NEED YOUR 2023 NOMINATIONS FOR OWL BOARD MEMBERS

OWL ANNOUNCEMENT :

IT’S TIME TO NOMINATE BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2023

Serving on the OWL Board is a great way to meet new people and get involved with meaningful activities. We urge you to contribute to OWL’s future by nominating candidates to serve on the OWL Board.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:

  • Attend monthly Board meetings either in person or via Zoom.
  • Identify important issues for OWL ALERTS for one month of each year.
  • Propose topics for monthly membership meeting.
  • Help organize at least one meeting of your choice.
  • Contribute ideas and (if willing) write articles to the OWL Newsletter.

NOMINATING CANDIDATES FOR BOARD MEMBERSHIP:

  • Ask prospective candidates if they are willing to be nominated. New OWL members or anyone interest in OWL’s mission can be nominated
  • Email your nominee to Betty Traynor: btraynor@att.net.  Nominees can be submitted by calling OWL and leaving a message at  (415) 712-1695, or by emailing OWL at info@owlsf.org
  • Please note that members are welcome to nominate themselves

DEADLINE for Nominations is the January Planning meeting on January 28, 2023. Nominations from the floor can be made at that time.

The list of nominees with brief bios will be sent by email or mailed to members who are not online.

ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS will be held at the beginning of the February 25 Membership Meeting. Up to 8 people may be elected.

OWL ALERT January 7: SENIOR SCAM STOPPER SEMINAR

SITUATION: Seniors are most at risk when it comes to criminals attempting to steal money over the telephone and the internet. The need to be savvy and vigilant in protecting ourselves from these scams is ever greater.

ACTION: California State Senator Scott Wiener is collaborating with State Assembly Members Matt Haney and Phil Ting to present an online seminar, SENIOR SCAM STOPPER, on Wednesday, January 18 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (with more time for Q&A if needed). Click HERE to register and receive the Zoom link. Registration is open until the event begins.

ACTION: Share this message with friends, colleagues and family: ALL ARE WELCOME.

For more information: 
•    visit Senator Wiener’s website: HERE
•    Call: (415) 557-1300
•    Email: sd11.senate.ca.gov/contact

OWL ALERT December 19: SUPPORT MEDICARE – QUICK PETITION SIGNATURE ACTION DURING HOLIDAY

SITUATION: Created by Congress 20 years ago in order to provide better care at lower costs, Medicare Advantage has instead resulted in rising costs and private insurance companies siphoning off billions from Medicare.

SITUATION: A recent New York Times report found that of the private insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans: 9 of the top 10 have overbilled Medicare between $12 and $25 billion, and 6 of the top 10 have been accused of fraud by the U.S. government and whistleblowers.

Health care providers have developed elaborate systems to make patients appear as sick as possible, often without providing additional treatment.

ACTION: In order to protect Medicare from corporate greed, we must get private insurance companies OUT of Medicare.

ACTION: Demandprogress.org has created a petition to urge Congress to ban private insurance companies administering Medicare. Sign the petition HERE.

ACTION: Share this message with family, friends and colleagues in the U.S.

LEGACY FILM FESTIVAL ON AGING 2023

Sheila Malkind, the Founder & Director, as well as her Board of Directors and reviewers, selected 40 long and short films, almost entirely documentaries–some whimsical, others serious—covering diverse themes on Friendship, Vitality, Later Life, Love, Creativity, Caregiving, and, inevitably, Death—and more.

Also included in the upcoming festival, are recorded interviews with several of the filmmakers–their chosen subjects, their challenges, and the messages their films impart. Director Norman Jewison explains his film adaptation of Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen, while Director Barbara Schock talks about her 2000 Academy Award as Director for Best Short Film (Live Action), My Mother Dreams The Satan’s Disciples in New York.

CLICK HERE FOR TIME AND PRICE DETAILS

The Legacy Film Festival on Aging celebrates the aging process as profound and meaningful, often challenging, and always courageous. Malkind: “Our films portray some of the many facets of this unique, ever-changing experience, honestly and artfully, and always with compassion and love for the subjects.”

Sheila Malkind, MA, MPH,

LEGACY FILM FESTIVAL ON AGING

(415) 515-2708

info@legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org

legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org

OWL ALERT DECEMBER 9: FIGHT FOR SOLAR POWER IN CALIFORNIA

SITUATION: For two decades, Net Energy Metering has helped increase the installation of new solar panels by allowing new residential adaptors to receive financial credit for surplus energy they send to the electrical grid.

SITUATION: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposes to slash this crucial credit to future adaptors by 75%, which would send rooftop solar off a cliff.

ACTION: December 15 is the day they vote the proposal up or down. Here’s what you can do:

  • Email Governor Newsom.  Tell him the CPUC’s most recent proposal is too extreme and he must step in. Suggested language can be found at this petition link.
  • Call the Governor at (916) 445-2841 today.  Say something like: My name is ___ and I live in ____. The CPUC’s latest rooftop solar proposal is still too extreme. We need you to step in. California should be doing more, not less, to promote rooftop solar. Please show us you are serious about rate hikes, blackouts and air pollution. Say no to the utilities’ profit grab, and yes to helping millions of working and middle class people get solar.
  • Sign the petition

For more information, here is a recent article in the San Francisco Examiner: SF Examiner: New CPUC Rule Puts the Dimmer on Solar Power

OWL ALERT December 3: FUND CLIMATE ACTION IN SAN FRANCISCO

SITUATION: SF has been slow to address our climate crisis—-and it’s going to be expensive. We need to continue to find new ways to plan, and fund planning and implementation. Relevant bond issues will be discussed at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, December 6.

ACTION: Implore the Board of Supervisors to adopt the resolution urging the Capital Planning Committee to include Climate Action Plan (CAP) funding priorities recommended by the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) Report, in the proposed General Obligation (GO) Bond schedule.

Email letters should be received before the start of the meeting – preferably by close of business on Monday, Dec 5. Suggested subject line: File 221208: Support resolution to include Climate Action funding in Capital Planning. Email to the Clerk of the Board, bos@sfgov.org.

ESTATE INFO FOR GETTING YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER

The following list was provided to OWLSF by Susan Pollack, November 2022

ESTATE INFORMATION – Outline

[Updated 11/2022]
  1. Contacts
  2. Estate Attorney
  3. Financial Advisor
  4. Bank(s)
  5. Insurance Agent
  6. Accountant
  7. Doctors
  8. Pharmacy
  9. Estate Documents
  10. Will
  11. Trusts
  12. Powers Of Attorney (original and on file at institutions)
  13. Health Care Proxies (original and on file with doctors and institutions)
  14. Funeral/burial arrangements; draft obituary; photographs for obituary
  15. Long term care arrangements
  16. Information on family dynamics (guidance)
  17. Property to be dealt with
  18. Investments/Brokerage Accounts/Life Insurance
  19. Bank Account(s); safe deposit box
  20. Real Estate
  21. Personal property and other valuable assets, pets
  22. Automobile
  23. Where to find things
  24. Jewelry and other items of value (market or sentimental)
  25. Original executed documents (will, trusts, POA’s, health care proxies)
  26. Passport/medical/social security/insurance cards/driver’s license, birth and marriage

certificates

  1. Credit cards
  2. Bank and Investment Statements
  3. Evidence of tax payments/tax filings – federal, state and real estate –
  4. Insurance Policies
  5. Real estate documents
  6. Lists of friends/contacts
  7. Lists of service providers, including utilities
  8. Lists of passwords
  9. keys
  10. Stop/Monitor/Pay
  11. Social Security/Medicare/supplemental health
  12. Pension
  13. Credit Cards
  14. Auto-Pay
  15. CableTV/internet/electric/water
  16. Rent/maintenance/real estate taxes/income taxes
  17. Insurance premiums (property/liability)
  18. Social media
  19. Insurance
  20. Property and Liability (including driver’s)
  21. Medical
  22. Professional
  23. Automobiles
  24. Certificates of title (pink slips)
  25. Insurance

Update Periodically

OWL ALERT NOV 28: REPEAL THE 2002 IRAQ USE OF FORCE

SITUATION: It’s obvious that the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) is no longer needed, yet the potential for the AUMF to perpetuate forever wars is ever-present.

Regarding the 2002 AUMF, to date:

  • The Biden Administration has affirmed that it is not relying on it for any ongoing operations
  • Senators Todd Young (R-Ind) and Tim Kaine (D-Va) have introduced a bill in the Senate to repeal it
  • In June, the House had bi-partisan support to include repeal in their version of the National Defense Authorization Act
YET IT HAS NOT RECEIVED A VOTE

ACTION: Contact your Senators today and tell them to support repeal of the 2002 Iraq AUMF, and BRING IT TO A VOTE THIS YEAR.

Go to: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm for Senate contact info.

OWL ALERT October 28: IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR ALL

SITUATION: California’s Healthcare for All Commission is charged with determining how to fix our broken healthcare system through a unified financing system that would save money AND provide better benefits and access to providers. This is for our whole health care system in California- not just Medicare.

SITUATION: A coalition of labor and community groups working towards the creation of a guaranteed health care system in California, along with UCSF, created a calculator so that individuals can see how much they could save if we moved toward such a system.  This calculator was expanded specifically for Medicare.

ACTION: Check out the calculator to see how much YOU would save: https://healthyca.org/medicare-for-all-savings-calculator/

ACTION:  Check out the recording of the recent CARA meeting with some of the creators of the calculator: https://californiaalliance.org/

ACTION:  Share this information with others!  

OWLSF ALERT October 23: HALT “FLOW” ADMISSIONS TO LAGUNA HONDA

SITUATION: The circumstances that thrust Laguna Honda Hospital into the throes of potential closure by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are largely due to the implementation of the “flow project” process of admitting patients. Implemented in 2004, this process greatly altered the demographic of LHH patients by:

  • transferring the responsibility of admissions from LHH Admissions Committee to the Department of Public Health, and
  • including patients who prior to FLOW would have been denied admission based on a variety of behavioral health issues, including drug abuse and violence

ACTION: Contact local, state and federal legislators and tell them to halt the FLOW admissions program (all contact info below).

ACTION: Attend the Board of Supervisors’ hearing on LHH’s future on Tuesday, November 1st at 3 p.m., either in person at city Hall, or online. Click HERE for details about attending online.

ACTION: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues.

Contact info:

Click HERE to contact your San Francisco City Supervisor

Click HERE to find and contact your California State Assembly Member and Senator

Email Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health & Human Services: xavier.becerra@hhs.gov, or write or call:

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775

Click HERE to contact Governor Gavin Newsom

OWL/CARA Alert Oct. 6: RECOMMENDATIONS ON STATE BALLOT MEASURES

OWL is a member of CARA (CA Alliance for Retired Americans) and is forwarding to our members CARA’s recommendations on some of the CA Propositions in the November 8 election.

CARA’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON STATE BALLOT MEASURES

CARA’s Board and Legislative Committee reviews all of the measures that qualify for the statewide ballot and makes decisions to support, oppose or take no position on these measures. In order to win  support or opposition, these measures must have a direct impact on seniors and our families and be approved by CARA’s leadership (with a consensus vote whenever possible). This year, there are 7 measures on the state ballot, and CARA was unable to get a consensus or even a clear majority on 3 of the measures, so CARA is  taking NO POSITION on them.

The other four measures listed below are part of the slate card that CARA is sending to all convention participants and  senior voter lists and posting on their website and in social media.

Prop. I: Right to Reproductive Freedom – YES

Prop. 28: Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative – YES

Prop. 29: Dialysis Clinic Requirements – YES

Prop. 31: Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum – YES

See for full descriptions of each: https://californiaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Slate-Card-V6.1.pdf

Also see the League of Women Voters of CA ballot recommendations:

https://lwvc.org/vote/elections/ballot-recommendations

ACTIONCONSIDER THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 8.

OWL ALERT September 23: CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES–THEY ADD UP TO BIG ONES

SITUATION: The State legislature passed and on September 16, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 1137 prohibiting new oil and gas wells or major retrofitting of existing wells within 3200 feet—more than half a mile—of homes, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.

ACTION: Kudos to everyone who responds to the OWL ALERTS.  Persistence pays off.  Together we can be a part of bringing healing and justice to the Earth and all that is within it.  Give thanks with a grateful heart and contact Governor Gavin Newsom with a word of thanks for this action.

ACTION: Forward this message to friends in California.

CONTACT:
Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
click here to email Gavin Newsom

OWL ALERT September 16: STOP THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF BIG MONEY IN CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS

SITUATION: The Ballot Disclose Act (AB 1416) sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign—which OWL has supported in the past—is on Governor Newsom’s desk for signature. AB 1416 requires ballots to add a short list of supporters and opponents from the official arguments in the voter information guide.  This information helps voters ascertain who supports and opposes each measure.

SITUATION: Also, on Governor Newsom’s desk for signature is the Disclosure Clarity Act (SB 1360) which requires online image and banner ads to clearly and prominently show their top funder on the ads themselves.

Newsom must sign these bills within the next 6 days
or this landmark legislation just dies on his desk.

ACTION: Stop the negative impact of Big Money donors in California IMMEDIATELY Write, call, and email Governor Newsom and tell him to sign AB 1416 and SB 1360.

ACTION: Tell your family and friends to join you in this very important effort.

Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Click
HERE to email Governor Newsom.