THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2025 Page 19 day. “By including more types of containers, raising the deposit and supporting retailers with higher handling fees … we can recycle billions more bottles and cans each year. This will reduce litter in our communities, slash emissions, save cities and towns millions in waste removal costs and create jobs across the state.” BAN OPEN CONTAINERS OF MARIJUANA IN MOTOR VEHICLES (H 186) — The Cannabis Policy Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would establish a $100 to $500 civil penalty for a driver possessing an open container of marijuana or marijuana-infused edibles in the passenger area of a motor vehicle — similar to the state’s open alcohol container law. The measure also creates exemptions for certain vehicles including limousines and RVs. “I fi led this bill with hopes of creating more structure and regulation within the developing industry,” said sponsor Rep. Marcus Vaughan (RWrentham). “I feel while this is a great addition to the commonwealth’s economic standpoint there needs to be more awareness on the public health side to promote safety.” QUOTABLE QUOTES Juneteenth, which was celebrated last week on June 19th, commemorates more than 250,000 slaves in Texas learning of their freedom on June 19, 1865. The date came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, the same year it was celebrated as a state holiday for the fi rst time in Massachusetts. Former Gov. Charlie Baker signed the holiday into law in July 2020. The Massachusetts Legislature’s Black and Latino Legislative Caucus celebrated the holiday at the Statehouse. Here are some of the quotes from the event: “We have come a long way, and it’s our turn at this point to have the baton in our hand. And if we don’t, and we don’t use the power we have today, after all the sacrifi ces that were made in the past, shame on us.” ---Rep. Russell Holmes (DBoston), the longest-serving member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. “When our values are attacked and our communities are disrespected, we will stand up and say loudly and proudly: ‘We believe in diversity, we believe in equity, we believe with every fi ber of our being that the Black community belongs at the table, in the boardroom, in our colleges, running our businesses and leading our government.’” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “One of the great things Trump is going to give us is the urgency to keep fi ghting, to keep pressing, to not lay down when he makes these inane comments that make no sense, when he starts threatening taking funding. We will do the best we can to make sure no one is left behind.” ---House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “We know that the path is stormy ahead. But we know, too, that we have to celebrate days like today to make sure that our voices are heard all the way to Washington, D.C., that diversity, equity and inclusion are important. DEI is a Massachusetts value that will never, ever change.” ---Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This year is not like every other year. When we celebrate this holiday, we must recognize what is happening around us.” ---Tomas O’Brien, executive director of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. 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 Does Medicare Cover Annual Physical Exams? Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover annual physical exams? I’ve gotten a physical every year since I turned 50 and would like to fi nd out what Medicare covers when I sign up in a few months. Almost 65 Dear Almost, No, Medicare does not pay for annual physical exams, but it does cover a onetime “Welcome to Medicare” checkup during your first year after enrolling in Part B. And after that, it covers annual wellness visits to keep track of your health. Here’s what you should know. Wellness Exam Physical vs In an annual physical, a doctor examines you, may do bloodwork and other tests and looks for problems even though you don’t have a specifi c complaint or risk. The Welcome to Medicare checkup and annual wellness visits are diff erent. They focus primarily on preventive care. Your doctor will review your risk factors, develop a personalized health plan for you, check that you’re up to date with preventive tests such as cancer screenings and fl u shots and may refer you for other tests. Here’s a breakdown of what these exams may include. Welcome to Medicare Checkup This is an introduction to Medicare and focuses on health promotion, disease prevention and detection to help you stay well. It’s an opportunity for your doctor to assess your health and provide a plan for care. During this visit your doctor will: • Take your height, weight, and blood pressure measurements, and calculate your body mass index (BMI). • Ask about your personal and family health history. • Give you referrals for other care as needed. • Assess your potential for depression. • Provide a simple vision test. • Recommend vaccines, tests, screenings and other preventive services you need to stay healthy. • Off er to talk with you about creating advance directives. Annual Wellness Visit This visit includes some of the same elements as the Welcome to Medicare checkup. For example, your doctor will review your medical history, record your vital information and give you an opportunity to talk about advance directives. Your doctor may also provide the following services: • Create a screening checklist for recommended preventive services for the upcoming year. • Look at health risks and treatment options. • Perform a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia. • Provide personalized health advice. • Review your current prescriptions. • Study risk factors for opioid problems if you have a prescription for opioids, and screen for potential substance use disorders?. ? Medicare Coverage The Welcome to Medicare and annual wellness visits are fully covered by Medicare Part B without any outof-pocket costs. You don’t need the Welcome to Medicare visit to qualify for later annual wellness visits, but know that Medicare won’t pay for a wellness visit during the fi rst 12 months you have Part B. During these visits, the provider may order additional tests or procedures that may be subject to Medicare’s deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. Make sure that when you book your appointment, you specifi cally ask for the Welcome to Medicare checkup or annual wellness visit to ensure Medicare covers it. Otherwise, you may have to pay for the visit. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you’ll probably need to use an in-network provider for the wellness visits to be covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual physicals in addition to the wellness visit. Check your plan for details. 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. of an annual session. During the week of June 1620, the House met for a total of three hours and 49 minutes while the Senate met for a total of four hours and 12 minutes. Mon. June 16 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:04 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:09 a.m. Tues. June 17 No House session. No Senate session. Wed. June 18 House 11:02 a.m. to 2:48 p.m. Senate 1:21 p.m. to 5:29 p.m. Thurs. June 19 No House session. No Senate session. Fri. June 20 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.
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