Due to a new law, more people qualify for more prescription drug savings with Medicare’s Extra Help program, so it could pay to apply even if you don’t think you qualify or if you were denied before. Many people qualify for Extra Help and don’t know it. 

You may be able to save money on your Part D prescription drug costs through Medicare’s Extra Help program, including $0 drug plan premiums, $0 deductibles, and lower out-of-pocket costs. With Medicare’s Extra Help, you’ll pay no more than $4.50 for generic drugs and $11.20 for brand-name drugs. The savings can really add up.

Apply for Extra Help if you have income below these limits:

• Individuals—Your yearly income is less than $22,590.
• Married and living with your spouse—Your yearly income is less than $30,660.

Apply through the Social Security Administration by visiting ssa.gov/extrahelp where you can complete and submit your application.

Need help applying? Access personalized health insurance counseling in your community at no cost, available from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit shiphelp.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE for locations near you.

Even if you don’t qualify for Extra Help now, you can reapply for Extra Help any time if your income and resources change.

To learn more about Medicare’s Extra Help program, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

(NewsUSA) - Subway is wrapping up its Summer of Footlongs in a big way after unveiling the world’s first Dip ‘N Slides – larger-than-life versions of its new Footlong Dippers – ahead of an epic summer bash in Nashville on July 27. These 95-foot-long inflatable water slides celebrate what is making Subway’s hot and cheesy snacks a breakout hit after debuting earlier this summer: soft and bubbly lavash-style flatbread, craveable ingredients and of course, dipping them into one of Subway’s 11 signature sauces.

For one day only, you can become the Footlong Dipper. Thrill-seeking footlong fans will plunge down a 37-foot drop through a 22-foot-long lavash-style flatbread tunnel before splashing into a pool of Baja Chipotle, Peppercorn Ranch or Honey Mustard “sauce” - colored water with a saucy consistency.

Supersized versions of Subway’s Pepperoni & Cheese, Chicken & Cheese or Double Cheese Footlong Dippers take over Bicentennial Park in Nashville on Saturday, July 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST. Skip the line and register for free beforehand at SubwayDipNSlide.com.

Each reservation includes 30 minutes of unlimited rides down all three Dip ‘N Slides and an afternoon of snacking at three Footlong Dipper tasting cabanas with Subway’s 11 signature sauces on tap. Across more than the 30,000 square feet of summer fun, attendees can also enjoy live music, lawn games and samples of limited-edition Doritos Sweet & Tangy BBQ Chips. Shower stations and lavash-inspired beach towels are available on-site, but all attendees are encouraged to dress for a mess and prepare for a big dip.

Footlong Dippers have quickly become a fan favorite, devouring more than two million after joining the Subway Sidekicks menu earlier this summer. Dippers are the perfect snack for a summer on-the-go, swirling melted cheese and meat in lavash-style flatbread, and served hot for the irresistible price of $3.

Whether local to Nashville or a short road trip away, this weekend’s Dip ‘N Slide will make unforgettable summer memories – whether it’s after a big splash or finding the perfect, unexpected pairing from one of 33 different combinations of Footlong Dippers and sauces to try on-site. Visit SubwayDipNSlide.com for more details and to sign up for the event. To order your own Footlong Dippers for pickup or delivery and to learn more about Subway's latest menu updates, visit your local Subway, Subway.com or the Subway App.

(NewsUSA) - May Day by Jess Lourey

A waitress turned librarian just wants a new life. What she ends up with is a killer change of pace in a funny, snappy, and suspenseful mystery by Edgar Award–nominated author Jess Lourey.

With a cheating boyfriend, a thankless career in waitressing, and her BA in English going to waste, Mira James jumps at the chance for a fresh start in rural Battle Lake, Minnesota.

She lands a job as a librarian, another as an on-call reporter, and is swept off her feet by Jeff Wilson, a handsome archaeologist unearthing the town’s storied history. All is coming together — until she finds Jeff’s body between the library’s reference stacks. It seems Mira didn’t really know her new lover at all. But someone surely did.

Behind this quirky town’s polite exterior are decades-old grudges and murderous secrets best kept hidden. Now it’s Mira’s turn to start digging. Purchase at https://bit.ly/4dySIxh.

The Bucharest Legacy by William Maz

In this second of the multi-award-winning spy thriller series, CIA agent Bill Hefflin is back in Bucharest — immersed in a cauldron of spies and crooked politicians.

The CIA is rocked when a KGB defector reveals there is a KGB mole inside the Agency. They learn the mole’s handler is a KGB agent called Boris. Hefflin recognizes that name — Boris is the code name of Hefflin’s longtime KGB asset.

If the defector is correct, Hefflin realizes Boris must be a triple agent, and his supposed mole has been passing false intel to Hefflin and the CIA. This makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the KGB mole inside the Agency.

Hefflin returns to Bucharest to find Boris and expose the mole. He finds spies, crooked politicians, and a country controlled by the new oligarchs, all of whom want to find Boris. But Hefflin knows a secret: Boris is dead. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3xzmQrU.

A Grain of Hope by Melissa Cole

Thirteen-year-old Oksana Kovalenko leads a simple life with her family in the rolling fields and rustic charm of her small farming village in the Ukraine. That is, until the Soviet Union takes power and her world is turned upside down.

As increasing authoritarianism and threats of land and food confiscation loom, Oksana fights to protect her loved ones from hunger and the loss of everything they hold dear. Threatened with being labeled an Enemy of the State, her family and friends endure persecution. She watches in horror as her village is reduced to starvation and despair. She then joins an underground movement that plans covert operations to feed starving villagers.

Oksana grows from a hopeful schoolgirl into someone determined to protect her heritage. A Grain of Hope reminds us of the human toll of war and oppression and celebrates the human spirit. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3JskIEN.

On Being Human by Ghazala Alam

A compilation of original poems, written in modern Urdu and English, with each poem introduced by an English preamble detailing the author’s  inspirations and insights. Accompanied by English transliteration, Alam’s poetry is informed by her experiences as an immigrant, woman, and a person of color. This distinct lens on life's challenges also reaffirms her faith in the human capacity to empathize, overcome, and seek justice.

With a sensitive, sometimes satirical style, her poems touch upon social issues pertinent to modern, everyday life. Each poem uses simple but elegant language to comment insightfully on fundamental aspects of the human struggle for meaning in the face of adversity and turmoil. Tackling issues such as ego, PTSD, and rejection, as well as true love and generosity, Ghazala's poems include a rallying cry for racial justice, a depiction of inner struggles of the mind, and much more. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3wCKtzB.

(NewsUSA) - Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the United States and the world. To promote and inform rapid advancements in AI and maintain America’s global competitiveness, the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI, announces the AI+ Summit Series.

The series kicks off with the topic of energy. The AI + Energy Summit, scheduled for September 26, 2024, in Washington, D.C., will bring together policy makers, energy industry leaders, top government and academic energy researchers, and technologists to address the challenges of AI’s energy consumption and develop solutions for a resilient and abundant energy future. The event also aims to address the implications of AI and energy for national security and promote partnerships between AI and energy stakeholders.

AI and other emerging technologies can help the United States take the lead in energy areas including maximizing energy efficiencies, discovering new materials, and enabling new forms of power generation. AI also has a role to play in overcoming energy challenges. The Department of Energy (DOE) already uses AI in several areas including advanced computing, emergency response, environmental modeling, climate forecasting, and materials research.

SCSP’s recent “Action Plan for U.S. Leadership in Next-Generation Energy,” raises many issues related to AI and energy, including recommendations for the government to bring America forward. The AI+ Energy Summit will highlight these and other issues, and promote collaboration to solve problems. The stakes are high; if the U.S. falls short on energy, American adversaries could gain the upper hand in AI leadership, according to SCSP experts.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more about the AI+Energy Summit and the SCSP’s Next-Generation Energy Action Plan.

(NewsUSA) - “After many years working on intelligence and war issues, I now believe we’re about to have a worldwide nuclear war. We and nearly all life will probably soon be incinerated in a superheated radioactive dust that chokes the atmosphere for decades and turns most of the Earth to ice. Billions of us will die instantly, the rest in slow agony from radiation, burns and hunger.”

“Our rulers have this power and may use it. Unless we stop them.”

That’s the setup for CRUDE, the latest innovative thriller from Mike Bond, author of 12 bestselling novels set in the world’s most dangerous places. He has been called by the BBC “the master of the existential thriller.”

Bond is a former war journalist, intelligence expert, U.S. Senate candidate, diplomat, investment banker, and international energy company CEO. He is also considered an expert on world crude supply and oil refining.

In CRUDE, late one night on a huge oil and gas platform in the South China Sea, a young geologist, Liz Chaplin, stands on a high deck watching the Southern Cross. Below her, under the vast unrolling waves, a diver is clamping explosives to the tower’s underwater struts.

In New York, the platform’s owner, Rawhide Energy CEO Ross Bullock, tells journalists the president’s actions are leading irrevocably to nuclear war.

The platform explodes in a tower of flame. Because she is outside, Liz is the only survivor. Meanwhile the White House, intelligence agencies, the media and financial world attack Rawhide for raising the specter of nuclear war and thus threatening the president’s reelection.

Days later, Rawhide’s Wyoming refinery is damaged by a bomb, then its UK electric company is hacked.

Bullock enlists an old friend, former Navy Seal Turk Holman, to investigate the platform sabotage, while Bullock and his team start to hunt down the refinery attackers, aided by a cranky, brilliant Wyoming sheriff, Lyle Brant.

The search leads to further dangers in Mongolia, Indonesia, Washington D.C., and Ukraine. The true perpetrator of these crimes becomes known – it is impossible, unbelievable, but true. Is the White House behind it?

The president threatens nuclear war with Russia to distract voters from his fraudulent Ukraine and China deals and worsening polls. The Russians respond by increasing their nuclear readiness. But the president alone can decide to launch a nuclear war as he clings to the nuclear button.

Mike Bond has received the highest praises for his riveting, authentic novels:

“One of America’s best thriller writers.” – CULTURE BUZZ

“A master of the storytelling craft.” – MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

“One of the 21st Century’s most exciting authors.” – WASHINGTON TIMES

“Bond’s deft thriller will reinforce your worst fears.” –PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“An exhilarating spy novel.” – KIRKUS

“Mike Bond is a masterful storyteller.” – SACRAMENTO BEE

CRUDE is available at https://amzn.to/3VuN2gF.

(NewsUSA) - Marine Toys for Tots, best known as the Nation's premier children's Christmastime charity, doesn't wait until the holiday season to support children in need. Toys for Tots has evolved into a year-round force for good, and 2024 marks its fourth annual Christmas in July initiative to bring joy, magic, and hope to underprivileged children across the United States.

"Needs aren't seasonal, and neither is Toys for Tots," says LtGen Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.  "With the rising cost of living and other economic challenges, parents are finding it increasingly difficult to pay bills and put food on their family's table.  Buying toys, books, or games for their children seems completely out of reach," he emphasized. "With the support from our generous donors, we can make sure every child's future is as bright as possible – and deliver the magic of the holiday season in July."

As in previous years, Toys for Tots partners with local nonprofits across the country to deliver hope and emotional support to struggling families who need it the most. Toys for Tots' year-round initiatives, which include Christmas in July and ongoing programs to support children's literacy and children in Foster Care, have become especially valuable as more families struggle with the impact of inflation and other challenging financial circumstances.

Amidst the stress of rising costs for everything from gas, groceries, and other basic necessities, Toys for Tots' year-round programs strive to provide a sense of normalcy and comfort to children in need, with hope for brighter days ahead.

"With every gift that is given, our generous supporters show how much they care about children who face poverty every day of the year. Santa's boots are big ones to fill, but if anyone's up to the task, it is our faithful donors," LtGen Laster adds.

The generosity of the American public makes a significant difference to underserved communities, and especially to children. Every contribution made is a gift of hope to a child in need – and a reminder of a brighter tomorrow.

Celebrate Christmas in July and be part of Toys for Tots' mission as a year-round force for good!

For more information and to donate, visit https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/evergreen-news.

(JC Scott) - Recently, there has been a lot of discussion by politicians about how to address prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for Americans. Unfortunately, some of that discussion has wrongfully pointed the finger at pharmacy benefit companies (PBMs).

How do PBMs work? PBMs help ensure more than 275 million Americans can get the medicines they need, easily and affordably. Your employer or health insurance company chooses to hire a PBM for their expertise in prescription drugs and pharmacy benefits. PBMs negotiate directly with drug companies to lower drug costs by $1,040 per patient every year. They also reduce medication errors, provide valuable clinical services, and help keep patients healthy.

Because of the savings PBMs secure, drug companies who want to be paid more for their products and pharmacies that want to be paid more for their services are funding self-interested attacks on the PBM industry.

Americans should be skeptical of these attacks on PBMs – the only stakeholder dedicated to lowering drug costs.

Concerningly, some members of Congress have taken the bait from drug companies and are considering misguided policies targeting PBMs. For example, a proposed policy called “delinking” is being pushed as a solution, yet respected economists from the University of Chicago, USC Schaeffer Center, and Jack Kemp Foundation agree that the policy would instead increase costs for patients, employers, and taxpayers.

Fortunately, encouraging innovation in the pharmacy benefits market is improving how patients access and pay for their prescription drugs. For example:

• The PBM marketplace has grown more competitive with over 70 full-service companies offering varying benefit design and contracting options.
• In light of rising drug prices, PBMs have implemented new innovative offerings to help employers lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.
• PBMs have responded to the high list prices of popular GLP-1 weight loss medications by negotiating savings and providing employers options to cover these drugs.
• Greater biosimilar uptake is being encouraged by PBMs, as a more affordable alternative to high-priced brand name drugs.
• PBMs are empowering pharmacists to practice at the top of their license and implementing programs to support rural pharmacies.

Policymakers have an opportunity to deliver what patients need when it comes to prescription drugs – lower costs and better access. By encouraging the market to continue innovating to address these needs and tailoring policies to promote competition and build on this progress, we can work together to help patients have affordable access to the drugs they need.

Learn more about how PBMs are delivering value to patients, employers, and pharmacies at www.HowPBMsWork.org.

(NewsUSA) - Stress continues to permeate the lives of many people worldwide, and data shows that 80% of chronic diseases have roots in stress, according to Kiran Dintyala, MD, a physician also known as Dr. Calm.

Dr. Dintyala has dedicated his medical practice to a combination of internal medicine, functional medicine, and stress management to help people lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. He combines management of physical illnesses as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety with preventive and therapeutic strategies that promote total well being.

In 2007, Dr. Dintyala was experiencing extreme stress caused by a combination of financial crises and career challenges. His personal journey resulted in the discovery of the power of calmness and self-realization to help manage stress and get out of a downward spiral of negativity.

Dr. Dintyala helps others find calm through his stress management program, called Happiness Therapy. The program includes guidance on how to quiet the racing brain, conquer life’s challenges and find peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. The 3-Step Simple Calmness System was designed to help harmonize one’s life with a combination of tranquility, wisdom, and right decision making.

“Your ability to tap into rational brain depends on your ability to quiet your thoughts and remain calm," said Dr. Dintyala.

Remaining calm in the midst of political chaos during this election season is quite a challenge for many, and Dr. Dintyala takes it head on in his new book, “The Mantra of Peaceful Politics—Seven Prescriptions by Dr. Calm.” The book provides insights on stress management and strategies in seven areas: Stay Calm in the Midst of Chaos, Decide Who to Vote For, Resolve Conflicts and Build Relationships, Guard Your Mind from Negativity, Improve Your Mental Health, Find Peace of Mind, and Be Happy and Prosperous No Matter What.

As the 2024 Presidential election draws near, stress, fear, and turmoil are on the rise among both political parties and the American public. “From politicians to the voters, everyone is feeling anxious as their fates unravel over the next few months,” Dr. Dintyala wrote in the introduction to the book.

Brushing off the overwhelming negativity is the key to maintaining mental health, Dr. Dintyala says, and compares the mental brush-off to daily tooth brushing to remove plaque buildup whether dental or mental. “It’s important that we all take a deep breath, relax, and stay calm so our minds remain clear. That’s the only way to maintain our sanity and make the right decisions about voting,” he adds.

Click here for the book The Mantra of Peaceful Politics https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9FSHX31?

Visit  https://www.stressfreerevolution.com/happiness-therapy349877 for Happiness Therapy

(NewsUSA) - It’s stunning to realize that only 10 states make birth records available to American-born adoptees and their biological parents. For adult adoptees born in the 20^th century era of closed adoptions, this presents a painful obstacle to discovering their origins and ending the agonizing hunger to know their own identity.

Janet Sherlund poignantly captures this journey in her elegant and heart-wrenching memoir, ABANDONED AT BIRTH: Searching for the Arms That Once Held Me. Sherlund paints a vivid portrait of the detachment and longing of an adopted child and the lifelong quest to find her biological mother. It’s an unflinching examination of the grief and trauma caused by this primal separation and the dogged determination it takes to face the forces of opposition—both internal and external—to finally achieve answers.

ABANDONED AT BIRTH illuminates the darker side of adoption, and what it takes to heal. “I hope it starts conversations about the rights of those given away, loss and grief in adoption, the biology of belonging and identity, and why love is not always enough to extinguish the pain,” Sherlund says.

Like many adoptees of her generation, Sherlund was the offspring of teenaged parents. Her mother was forced to have her baby in secrecy. Sherlund would come to learn that her mother was unusual for her time. Not only did she not tell the father she was pregnant, she wanted nothing to do with her baby and never even looked at her newborn.

All Sherlund had to go on when she began her search was a false narrative written about her biological parents by the adoption agency. The twists and turns, setbacks and disappointments, and surprising familial connections finally achieved make ABANDONED AT BIRTH a page-turner of a memoir.

For Sherlund, who raised her family and served on nonprofit boards in education, health and the cultural arts before writing her memoir, her single most significant life event was being given up for adoption at birth. Being adopted undermined her sense of trust and personal value and impacted every decision she made. Her memoir fulfills a lifelong dream of raising awareness about loss and grief in adoption, and why it takes more than love to survive that trauma.

Says Jenifer Eckert, founder of Boston Post Adoption Resources, “Janet's book is a gift to anyone touched by adoption or wonders what it is like to be adopted. Her personal story of search and reunion is beautifully and honestly told. Through Janet's journey we get an intimate understanding of what it is like to finally discover your identity after years of wondering and searching.”

Learn more at https://www.abandonedatbirthbook.com and purchase the book at https://bit.ly/44Io68F.

(NewsUSA) - The viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu continuously change or “mutate” to escape our natural immune responses and the protection provided by vaccines. As a result, for both flu and COVID-19, vaccination is not a “one and done” proposition.  

Fortunately, as these viruses change, flu and COVID-19 vaccines are updated to protect the public against the variants that are currently circulating. Experts at Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity, and Progress (CVEEP)—a coalition dedicated to educating the public about vaccines and promoting equity and access—emphasize that the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness from both flu and COVID-19 is to stay up to date with recommended vaccinations.

Some viruses, such as those that cause measles and polio, change infrequently. This means that the vaccines for these viruses can provide immunity that is longer-lasting. By contrast, frequent changes in the viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu mean the protection provided by these vaccines will wane as new variants emerge.

Flu and COVID-19 are serious diseases. Between October 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, there were approximately 44,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, and at least 24,000 deaths associated with flu. These numbers highlight the ongoing importance of staying current with vaccinations to protect yourself and your family from these viruses. 

Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available this fall that are formulated to protect against the variants that are most likely to be circulating during the upcoming respiratory illness season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines and routine annual influenza vaccines for individuals aged 6 months and older.

COVID-19 remains a serious threat to public health and still poses significant risks. Staying current on your flu and COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to maintain protection from these illnesses. Help reduce the risk of interruptions and challenges that come from upticks in flu and COVID-19 infections by getting vaccinated this fall. 

Visit cveep.org/stayupdated for more information or consult with your healthcare provider.