Friday, September 10, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Report: HMOs scarce for rural seniors
All of Kentucky's rural seniors, 98 percent of Indiana's rural seniors and 28 percent of Ohio's rural seniors could not join a Medicare HMO even if they wanted to, according to a report issued Thursday by the consumer group Families USA.
Nationwide, Families USA estimates that 73 percent of rural Medicare members live in counties where no Medicare HMO is offered. Kentucky is one of 13 states with no Medicare HMOs operating in rural areas.
Some seniors like Medicare HMOs because they reduce the costs of copayments for traditional Medicare while often offering increased benefits, such as prescription drug coverage. However, seniors in many states, including Ohio, have been stung by Medicare HMOs pulling out of areas with low reimbursement rates.
In rural areas, low numbers of seniors combined with low reimbursement rates have always been unattractive to Medicare HMOs. Until that situation changes, any health reform plan that depends on Medicare HMOs likely will be bad for rural seniors, said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.
Fiscal emergency ends for Cleveland schools
CLEVELAND — State Auditor Jim Petro on Thursday took the Cleveland school system off the state's fiscal emergency list, a move that dissolves a commission set up to keep a tight watch on district finances.
“The district has gone from a fiscal crisis of unprecedented proportions to an outlook of financial stability,” Mr. Petro said at a news conference where he was joined by Mayor Michael R. White and Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the schools' chief executive officer.
Mr. Petro declared a state of fiscal emergency for the Cleveland schools in October 1996 after concluding that the 77,000-student district was in a financial shambles. At the time, the schools had an operating deficit and needed to borrow $99 million to meet fiscal 1997 obligations.
But a tax levy passed in November 1996 that generates about $70 million annually along with cost-cutting measures and a financial plan have helped the schools, Mr. Petro said.
Slaying suspect claims wife's death a suicide
WAUSEON, Ohio — An Ohio man who admitted he dismembered his wife's body and dumped parts of it in trash bins in southeast Michigan claims that she committed suicide, according to court documents.
Thomas Craft, 36, of Swanton is charged with aggravated murder and possession of criminal tools. A motion filed by Mr. Craft's attorneys said Mr. Craft “intends to assert at trial that her death was the result of her having committed suicide.”
The court document also said that Mr. Craft told investigators he “blacked out” after he discovered his wife “had inflicted the fatal wound upon herself.”
Mr. Craft pleaded no contest Tuesday to gross abuse of a corpse, which carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison.
Fulton County prosecutors said Mr. Craft probably killed his wife, Lynette, 38, on June 29 at or near their home in Swanton, a community 18 miles west of Toledo and south of the Michigan state line.
Parts of her body were found in garbage cans near Ann Arbor, Mich.
Advocates for disabled sue city over access
SANDUSKY, Ohio — A group of activists has filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing its leaders of failing to provide people with disabilities safe access to sidewalks and streets.
The lawsuit comes three months after Sandusky resident Kelly Dillery sued the city, saying the city violated her civil rights and discriminated against the disabled.
Ms. Dillery, who has muscular dystrophy, was charged three times in the past year for driving her motorized wheelchair on streets.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday by the activists in U.S. District Court in Toledo said the city has a “pattern and practice” of failing to properly install and maintain curb ramps when it resurfaces streets and builds sidewalks.
“It appears to us that this issue is not a priority to them,” said Shona Eakin of the Ability Center of Greater Toledo.
Sandusky Law Director Don Icsman said he believes the northern Ohio city has been trying to make it easier for disabled people to get around since before the Americans with Disabilities Act was approved in 1990.
New chief appointed for Ohio INS office
Mark B. Hansen, 39, has been promoted to director of the Cleveland office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He has been acting director since Robert Brown retired in January. Before that, he was deputy director.
His staff of 128 — including about 35 in Cincinnati — serves all of Ohio.
State officials didn't plan to take limo ride
INDIANAPOLIS — “Savings plan takes back seat to limo” was not the kind of headline state Treasurer Tim Berry and Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed had in mind when they went to Evansville to tout a college savings program.
A public relations firm acknowledged Thursday that it didn't look good when the pair pulled up to a school in a limousine, but said the Republican officials had no idea about the arrangement.
Spokesmen for Mr. Reed and Mr. Berry were quick to confirm that.
“It was a misunderstanding and something we were unaware of,” said Reed spokesman Tony Samuel. “We have informed them not to let it happen again.”
Mr. Berry and Mr. Reed went to Highland Elementary School in Evansville on Wednesday to promote changes in the state's college savings plan.
Taft offers schools $10.2B
Jury urges death for Lynch
Radio station reconsiders 'bridge of bras'
Shopkeeper earned 'respect' in hard way
Temples increase security for holy days
Southern Baptists want Jews to convert
Greeting card exhibit puts Rosh Hashana tradition on display
Crash victims 'had no chance'
Family faces death of teen, grandfather
Covington Oktoberfest has food, fun for 'everyone's palate'
Oxford visitors in for a sweet time at Honey Festival
Parade opens Harvest Home Fair
Soldiers to restore old cemetery
Christians want to stress religious meaning of 2000
Ex-law school dean courts the outdoor life
GET TO IT
Prostate cancer checks offered
Adviser offers suggestions for Ludlow budget
Board opposes splitting Middletown-Monroe
Board reluctant on sewer dispute
Grant Co. may display commandments
Klan rally tangles busy Columbus weekend
Magnet plan reaction mixed
Man accused of faking disability
Minister sees talents as tools for community
Muhlhauser almost finished
New Clearcreek Twp. trustee
Pregnant woman sentenced to prison
Stadium project shy of minorities goal
TRISTATE DIGEST
Villagers speak up: No landfill
Without Kyle, life is 'too quiet' for grieving parents
Youth pleads not guilty in shooting
