14
Weekend
BALITA
Visit www.Balita.com
Health & Family Health Family
Saturday-Friday | May 29 - June 4, 2021
Duque: COVID-19 test results from self-swab possibly ‘questionable’ MANILA (Mabuhay) — A COVID-19 test result from a self-swab test may be “questionable” since there is no guarantee that protocols and standards were followed, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday after an actor went viral for collecting his own sample. “Me r on t a y on g m g a panuntunan o pamantayan para gawin ‘yan. Hindi puwedeng sarili mong gagawin ‘yan (We have protocols for swabbing. You can’t just do it yourself),” Duque said at the Laging Handa briefing. “Kung hindi naman ito naaayon sa mga tamang pamantayan ay kaduda-duda ang magiging resulta so hindi po natin dapat ginagawa ito (Your result will be questionable if you did not meet standards so let’s not do it ourselves),” he added. Earlier this week, Robin Padilla went viral for posting a video of himself conducting a self-swab aboard a boat. He said no medical professional was available at the time. Meanwhile, Duque also reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are not for sale after poll commissioner Rowena Guanzon tweeted that she was looking to buy jabs for her staff. He said the Department of Health reminded Guanzon that the sale of COVID-19 vaccines is not yet permitted. “Wala pang certificate of product registration kaya hindi mo pwedeng ibenta sa open market (You cannot sell vaccines in the open market without a certificate of product registration),” Duque explained. Aut hor it ies have a lso launched investigations into the alleged selling of COVID-19 vaccination slots. (MNS)
Earlier this week, Robin Padilla went viral for posting a video of himself conducting a selfswab aboard a boat. He said no medical professional was available at the time.
LGUs ordered to fast track vaccination, ease registration process MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units to fast track the vaccination of Filipinos by easing registration process and providing help to individuals needing assistance. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the department will soon issue a memorandum circular “fast tracking inoculation efforts” through online registration and traditional sign-ups for those who do not have access to the internet. “Let’s speed up the masterlist, let’s use simple data, the simpler the better,” Año said on Wednesday night’s Cabinet
DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO
briefing presided by President Rodrigo Duterte. The circular would focus on the following measures: -Hasten masterlisting effort by streamlining data requirements. -Aggressive communication and advocacy for widespread immunization. This will also include swift response to individuals who will experience adverse reaction following vaccination. -Deployment of mobile units to deliver and administer vaccines. This will be done in partnership with private hospitals to ensure sufficient health care professionals. -Pa r t ner w it h pr ivate sector, non-government organizations, academe and religious organizations on the establishment of more vaccination sites and mass vaccination drive to boost acceptance and confidence. The DILG chief said review of the LGUs vaccination plans will continue. To date, a total of 25,994 LGUs have submitted plans to inoculate their constituents. (MNS)
TURNING
65
SOON?
ANY day on the 3 months before and 3 months after your 65th birthday, you may enroll on Medicare Part B at the Social Security office. If you don’t enroll, you will be meted a penalty if you enroll later, unless you have what is called a “creditable” coverage. If you don’t have “creditable” coverage and you enroll later than the 7-month window period, you may enroll only during the period from January 1st to March 31st, with an effective date of July 1st. Medicare Part B takes care of your MD visits, laboratories, durable medical equipment (DME), and drugs you don’t administer yourself like flu and pneumonia shots as well as cancer drugs, etc. Anyone enrolled on a Covered California health plan and enjoying an Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) that lowers monthly premiums
must call Covered CA not later than 1 month before 65th birthmonth to disenroll from the plan. Let me illustrate: Jack will turn 65 on September 27, 2021. He is currently enrolled on a Bronze plan at the Covered CA paying only $20 monthly premium because his income entitles him to an APTC. Medicare Part B premium for 2021 is $148.50 monthly, or more for those with higher income. If Jack waits until 2022 to enroll on Medicare Part B so he may continue to enjoy paying only $20 monthly premium instead of the higher Medicare Part B , he will suffer a “double whammy” later on. 1) Social Security will penalize him for not enrolling on Medicare Part B during the required period – 3 months before and 3 months after his birth month (June 1 – December 31, 2021), and 2) the IRS will disallow his APTC for
OCTA: NCR's COVID-19 cases now 80% lower than peak of surge MANILA (Mabuhay) — The average number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has fallen by around 80% from the peak of the surge in infections during the previous months, the OCTA Research group said Wednesday. Professor Guido David said the capital region averaged 1,099 new COVID-19 cases daily over the past week. “That is about 80% lower than the average during the peak of the surge. The single-day peak was 8,000 but the daily average peak was 5,550, so this is a significant improvement,” he said in an online forum. David also said NCR's reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case can infect, has decreased to 0.53 while its positivity rate has gone down to 10% from a high of 25% in April. “Obv iously, we wa nt to sustain this. Then again, we should remind everyone that even though we have made significant improvements, the NCR will always be at risk of another surge… that’s why the focus right now is on vaccinations,” he said. David said the GCQ over Metro Manila and neighboring provinces should be “retained” in June. David also reported that Quezon Cit y, Zamboanga, Manila, Pasig, and Davao City registered the highest number of new COVID-19 cases over the past week. Despite this, most cities posted a negative case growth rate, except for Davao City whose infections grew by 49%. Quezon City and Zamboanga also logged high hospital occupancy rates of 62% and 70%, respectively. The Philippines has 1,188,672 COVID-19 cases with 1,120,452 recoveries and 20,019 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. (MNS)
the period from September 1 to December 31, 2021. What should Jack do? 1. Call Social Security sometime in June to enroll on Medicare Part B for an effective date of September 1, 2021. AND, very important 2. Call Covered CA sometime in July to disenroll from the Bronze plan effective August 31. By September 1, 2021, Jack has Medicare Part A and Part B. He may decide to stick to Original Medicare and enroll on Medicare Part D and a Medicare Supplement Plan to cover his share of cost OR enroll on a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you need help, call me at 323 535 7373 or e-mail me at: leo.balita@gmail.com. About the author: Joleo “Leo” Monsalud, RICP@ holds CA life and health license #0G55218. He studied for MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines. He worked for United Laboratories, Inc. where his last position held was vice-president in charge as general manager of a division. He helps members choose the right Medicare health plan for them.
