Breaking News

Viewpoints

What Injections Are Covered By Medicare?

Question: Why wasn’t the tetanus shot I received covered by Original Medicare? Answer: Vaccine and injections prescribed by our physicians are covered differently depending on what the injection is for. Original Medicare Part A would cover any injection given as part of a hospital stay. Medicare Part B covers outpatient services including some injections and vaccines; the Flu shot, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal and COVID-19. These vaccines are administered either in a doctor’s office, health clinic or pharmacy and are covered in full by Medicare Part B with no deductible and no 20% cost ...

A Shortage Of Workers, Is Failure Of Gov’t.

Lots of things make me angry these days, but nothing makes me madder than seeing places close because no one wants to work anymore. We’ve weathered all kinds of changes in our country, but the deterioration of the American work ethic should send out alarm bells that are heard in every corner of this country. America was founded on a set of values called Puritan Ethics, and yes, I know those Puritans could be a joyless bunch, but their devotion to the necessary toils of life was the foundation of what America would become: a country of hard workers that set their sights high—a ...

Once Upon A Time In All Our Lives

When we were young children, at least back in my childhood days, we used to love reading and hearing those “Once Upon a Time” bedtime stories, many of them adaptations of Aesop’s Fables, or taken from the Tales of Mother Goose, or taken from the pen of The Brothers Grimm. On the Saturday Morning cartoon show, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, one of the segments included lessons in World History from the most accomplished canine in history, Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman, and their time travels using their Wabac Machine. Another segment was called Fractured Fairy Tales, ...

Admiring The Wildlife At Hickory Heights

This year we are observing the wildlife at Hickory Heights differently. We have always put out bird feeders that attracted a multitude of kinds of birds. The Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission has requested that all bird feeders be taken down. We complied. Now we are missing our birds. While the feeders were up, we saw all kinds of birds. Don especially likes the Baltimore orioles. He brought his big orange ball feeder up last year, but a bear promptly destroyed it. We bought two new feeders this year. We saw an oriole early this season, but that was it. He only returned to the ...

A Search For Balance With Aquatic Plants

I recently stayed at a friend’s cabin perched just above a small lake in an area that defines “the middle of nowhere”. Much of the weekend centered around water activities - swimming, kayaking, fishing, and more. And much of the weekend conversation centered around the plants in the ...

Anticipating A Heroic Homecoming

Writing these Musings in advance for eleven years has shown me the wisdom of penning my words early to avoid any of the last minute deadline panic I still remember from college years. By the time you are reading this, Hero should be happily settled in here with me. I had not seen Anne in a couple of years and hoped her visit will be long. Sadly, while able to extend her stay by one day, come early Sunday morning, she had to load up her two dogs and head back home. I think she estimates at least a nine-hour drive each way with stops to accommodate the canines. The moment will be ...