| Medicare drug gap will be even trickier in 2008
That's true for Susan Mudgett, 67, who for the past two years has purchased Sierra Rx Plus, an enhanced plan that covered the brand-name drugs she takes to counteract side effects she experiences from undergoing breast cancer treatment. When reviewing her options for 2008, Mudgett, who lives in the Sacramento suburb of Gold River, learned that not only will her current plan not cover her brand-name medications through the doughnut hole, it will no longer cover those drugs at all. Under the lowest-cost scenario she could find for next year, she will have to spend $1,800 more on her drugs than in 2007. "It blew my mind," said Mudgett, a retired claims examiner for Catholic Healthcare West. "I just said, 'This can't be right.' " There is some good news, however, for people who take generic medications.
12 ex-Mariners named in Mitchell Report
Twelve former members of the Mariners organization are named in the Mitchell Report, which was released Thursday and details the use of performance-enhancing substances in Major League Baseball. The athletes named who played for the Mariners at some point are: Ryan Franklin, Ismael Valdez, Jose Guillen, Josias Manzanillo, Jim Parque, Fernando Vina, Todd Williams, Ron Villone, Glenallen Hill, Manny Alexander, David Bell and David Segui. .
Benefit will help cancer patient
A benefit for Pat Hickey will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Moose Lodge No. 1351 in LaGrange.Hickey is an 11-year breast cancer survivor, whose cancer has returned and spread to her bones. She is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The money raised will help pay medical expenses.The benefit will feature entertainment, food, raffles, a silent auction and a 50/50 drawing. Entertainment will include Drum and Wires, Spectre, Rachel Swallows and disc jockey Ed Steams. Hickey will perform a comedy routine, as will Marc Satterfield.Hickey is employed at Indiana Custom Trucks/Aluminum Cargo Trailers in LaGrange, which has organized this benefit. Company officials are asking for donations of items to be auctioned off, as well as cash for the 50/50 raffle.Donated items can be taken to ICT's office at 2840 N.
USC climber embraces mission to fight cancer
At a time in their lives when many people are ready to slow down, Upper St. Clair's Laura Willumsen is ready to climb mountains--literally. Willumsen, marketing director for the Pittsburgh Opera, is one of four Pittsburghers participating in Climb for Hope. Climb for Hope's Pittsburgh team was created with the purpose of beating breast cancer by funding innovative vaccine research for late-stage breast cancer. Team Pittsburgh leaves in January to tackle Ecuador's second highest peak, Cotopaxi, which at 19,348 feet is also the world's highest active volcano. Five marketing professionals: Willumsen, Karen Kern, Nick Cobler, Todd Lepley, and Ted Williams; make up Team Pittsburgh, the first regional team for Climb for Hope. Each team member has a personal reason for their participation.
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