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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022 Page 15 BEACON | FROM Page 14 (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes SECRETARY OF VETERANS SERVICES MUST BE A VETERAN (S 2739) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would require the Secretary of Veterans’ Services to be a veteran. “Less than one-half of one percent of our population serves in the military, and a lot of times it can be diffi - cult to fully grasp what veterans have been through and the issues they face unless you have served yourself,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld), the Senate chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “The secretary is going to be the position in our state with the highest obligation of representing our service members and this amendment ensures whoever fi lls that position has had these experiences and understands what it truly means to serve.” (A “Yes” vote is for requiring the secretary to be a veteran.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of March 7-11, the House met for a total of four hours and 52 minutes and the Senate met for a total of three hours and 20 minutes. Mon. March 7 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:14 a.m. Senate 11:14 a.m. to 11:21 a.m. Tues. March 8 No House session. No Senate session Wed. March 9 House 11:01 a.m. to 3:31 p.m. No Senate session Thurs. March 10 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Senate 1:24 p.m. to 4:43 p.m. Fri. March 11 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. 1. On March 18, 1990, two men pretending to be police stole 13 works of art from what museum? 2. What sport is also called natation? 3. Which is the longest: Grand Canal, Panama Canal or Suez Canal? 4. March 19 is National Quilting Day; what quilt type often has diff erent embroidery stitches? 5. In 1235 in what London building did Henry III start a zoo with lions? 6. In what movie would you fi nd the line “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”? 7. On March 20, 1886, the fi rst demonstration of a multiple voltage AC power system provided lighting in Great Barrington, Mass.; what does AC stand for? 8. When did Elizabeth II become queen: 1941, 1952 or 1963? 9. What is Formula Translation language better known as? 10. March 21 is World Puppetry Day; what puppet recorded the songs “Bein’ Green” and “The Rainbow Connection”? 11. Maple syrup has what USDA letter grade(s)? Answers 12. What is the oldest original MLB stadium still in use? 13. On March 22, 1621, the Pilgrims signed a peace treaty with Massasoit, the leader of what tribe? 14. What sportswoman said, “Champions keep playing until they get it right”? 15. In what country is the world’s tallest statue (excluding pedestals) of a woman, which is called “The Motherland Calls”? 16. Who was the fi rst female African American to be elected to Congress? 17. March 23 is National Puppy Day; what movie features an abducted litter of puppies and Cruella de Vil? 18. Where is Hyperion, the world’s tallest tree: Borneo, Redwood National Park or Yosemite? 19. In the 1750s, two “Battles on Snowshoes” took place during what war? 20. On March 24, 1921, the first-ever women’s international sporting event, the Women’s Olympiad, was held in the public gardens of what European casino? Does Medicare Cover Power Lift Chairs? Dear Savvy Senior, Because of back pain and knee arthritis I’m interested in getting a power lift recliner for my living room that’s easy for me to get into and out of. Does Medicare cover them? Can’t Get Up Dear Can’t, Yes, Medicare does indeed provide some coverage for lift chairs, provided your doctor prescribes it for a medical reason, but they won’t cover the entire cost of the chair. Medicare will only pay for the motorized lifting mechanism, which is considered durable medical equipment (DME), and is covered under Part B. The other parts of the chair – the frame, cushioning, and upholstery – are not covered. Here are a few more details you should know. What Is a Lift Chair? First, for those who aren’t familiar with them, lift chairs, which look like traditional recliners, have motorized lift mechanisms built in that aid with standing up and sitting down for people with limited mobility. With the push of a button, a lift chair hoists a person from sitting to a position where they can comfortably stand up. It also works in reverse to help a person gently take a sitting position. Medicare Coverage Requirements If you’re a Medicare benefi ciary, to fi nd out if you qualify for coverage, you’ll need to get a prescription and a “Certifi cate of Medical Necessity” from your doctor that indicates your need for a lift chair. The conditions you’ll need to meet include: • That you have severe arthritis of the hip or knee, or a severe neuromuscular disease. • That you can’t stand up on your own from a regular chair. • Once standing, you can walk independently or with the aid of a walker or cane. • That you do not reside within a skilled nursing facility, hospice or nursing home facility. You’ll also need to purchase your lift chair from an equipment supplier that’s enrolled in Medicare. To fi nd and compare Medicare approved suppliers in your area go to Medicare.gov/medical-equipment-suppliers, type in your Zip code and “Seat Lift Mechanisms” in the equipment box. If you do qualify, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the approved cost of the chair’s motorized lifting mechanism, after you’ve met your Part B annual deductible. You, or your Medigap supplemental policy (if you have one), will pay the remaining 20 percent of the lift mechanism. You will also pay 100 percent of the remaining cost of the chair. You should also be aware that if you do buy your lift chair from a Medicare supplier, you will likely pay for the total cost of the chair upfront and can then seek reimbursement from Medicare. Lift chairs can run anywhere from $400 to $2,000 or more depending on the fabric, options and upgrades. The reimbursement is usually between $250 and $300 depending on the state you live in. Advantage Coverage If you happen to get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, they too provide lift chair coverage, but they may impose diff erent rules and will likely require you to see an in-network supplier. You’ll need to contact your plan directly for details. Other Helpful Options If you find that Medicare won’t cover your lift chair or if you’re looking for something less expensive, there are assistive products you can add to your current furniture like the Stander EZ Stand-N-Go (Stander.com, $140), which has adjustable support handles that can be used on any sofa or recliner to help with sitting down and standing up. Another way to make your furniture more accessible is by increasing its height with “furniture risers.” These typically range from 2 to 5 inches in height and are inserted under the legs of your furniture. Costs range from a few dollars up to $50 or more and can be purchased at retail stores like Walmart and Target, or online at Amazon.com. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 2. Swimming 3. Grand Canal in China (1,104 miles) 4. Crazy quilt 5. Tower of London 6. “The Wizard of Oz” 7. Alternating current 8. 1952 9. Fortran 10. Kermit 11. Only A since Grades B and C were renamed A in 2014 12. Fenway Park 13. Wampanoag 14. Billie Jean King 15. Russia 16. Shirley Chisholm 17. “101 Dalmatians” 18. Redwood National Park 19. The French and Indian War 20. Monte Carlo

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