Parkinson’s Disease Doesn’t Have To Ruin Your Life
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may feel lonely and isolated. However, in the U.S. Alone, 50,000 to 60,000 news cases of Parkinson’ Disease are diagnosed annually. Approximately four to six million people all over the world live with Parkinson’s Disease, and make adjustments to insure that their lives are as full and normal as possible.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects your mobility. It generally is a slow-moving condition that begins in mid-life (few young adults are affected), and begins with slight tremors in one hand. Early on in the disease, you may have difficulty swinging your arms when you walk, your speech may become slurred, or your facial expressions may be affected. Eventually, Parkinson’s Disease causes stiffness or slow movement.
The Cause?
Although there is no definitive cause for Parkinson’s Disease, scientific consensus says that heredity and environment may have something to do with it. Generally, Parkinson’s Disease may be genetically passed, but only if several members of the same family are afflicted with it. There also has been some evidence that exposure to some toxins in the environment, such as herbicides and pesticides, may increase the risk of the disease. Also, men seem to be at higher risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease than women.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s
Because there is no specific diagnostic test for Parkinson’s Disease, often it is a process of elimination. You may have to be tested for many other diseases and disorders to rule them out. That, combined with your symptoms, physical examinations and neurological examinations may lead to a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Other Complications . . .
Often, patients with Parkinson’s Disease have other debilitating conditions such as cognitive dysfunctions, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunctions, gastrointestinal problems, and emotional problems, among some others. Generally, effective therapies and medications successfully treat these conditions. However, should you notice any physical or emotional changes, make certain to let your doctor know – he or she can help.
Parkinson’s Treatments
There are many drugs available for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, one of the most successful is Parcopa (Levodopa) which is a natural chemical that converts to dopamine in the brain. As with many other illnesses and conditions, medications can be changed and modified to achieve optimal results.
CIGNA To Pay Fines & Fees For Their Long-Term Disability Handling Practices In
Five States
CIGNA will pay $1.6 million in fines and $70 million in fees to policyholders in five states including California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The fees and fines CIGNA is being forced to pay are a result of their improper disability claim handling practices.
Says Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner, Michael Consedine, “The state examinations showed that these three CIGNA companies were lax and not using available information to appropriately process disability income insurance claims. The companies are now re-evaluating certain claims and have so far set aside $48 million in reserves in the event additional benefits need to be paid, as well as an additional $29 million in additional amounts for presently open claims.”
“This case involves long-term disability claims and is an important win for California consumers,” said California Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones. “When people are injured or disabled, it is particularly important that their claims are handled quickly and fairly. The agreement with CIGNA puts into place more effective claim handling procedures, which will ensure consumer protection for policyholders.”
Under the settlement agreement, the companies are required to:
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Enhance claim procedures to improve the claims handling process to benefit current and future policyholders;
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Establish a remediation program in which the companies’ enhanced claim procedures will be applied to certain previously denied or adversely terminated claims for residents of states whose insurance commissioners also signed the settlement agreement;
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Participate in a 24-month monitoring program conducted by the insurance departments of the five lead states in the action involving random sampling and ongoing consultation;
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Undergo a re-examination upon completion of the monitoring period; and,
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Pay fines and administrative fees totaling $1,675,000 to the five lead states which are California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
New York Attorney General Reaches Agreement With Two Bus Companies To Insure Equal Access For Disabled Persons
Eric T. Schneiderman, NY Attorney General, announced settlements with United Coach Lines, Inc. and Omega Express, Ltd., two New York-based charter bus companies to insure that both companies provide access to transportation to people with disabilities, in accordance with the law and as required by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Says Attorney General Schneiderman, “Twenty-three years following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, equity in access to transportation remains an important civil rights issue. My office is committed to achieving full compliance with accessibility laws and requirements to help ensure that all New Yorkers are able to lead full and independent lives. These agreements put all providers of transportation service on notice that they must comply with the law in New York State.”
The Attorney General’s investigation revealed that United Coach Lines and Omega Express did not have accessible buses and could not provide buses with wheelchair lifts within the time periods required by law. Additionally, the ticket agents failed to make referrals to another bus company that could provide such wheelchair accessible service.
As a part of the settlement, Omega Express will purchase and retain a wheelchair accessible bus, and train its employees about ADA obligations. United Coach will contract with a third party bus company to provide accessible service, create new policies and train their employees consistent with their ADA obligations, and pay the state of New York a $5,000 penalty.