Telemarketers Offer Misleading ‘ACA Compliant’ Insurance Plans To Idahoans Seeking Health CoverageThe Department of Insurance warned via news release that consumers shopping for health insurance should be wary of telemarketers and websites promoting “discount health plans” that allegedly meet requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Consumers are encouraged to visit the Department website or to call (208) 334-4250 to verify the licensing of any individual, agency or company using robocalls or online advertisements to promote discounted plans claiming to be ACA compliant.
The Department strongly advises consumers seeking health coverage to utilize the state’s insurance exchange, Your Health Idaho, or call (855) 944-3246 to speak with a Your Health Idaho representative. The DOI has received numerous complaints from consumers who say they were misled. For more information, visit doi.idaho.gov.
Spirit N’ Motion To Host 2nd Annual ‘Christmas Classic in Sun Valley’ Gymnastics Meet
Spirit N’ Motion Athletic School (SMAS) is set to host the second annual
“Christmas Classic In Sun Valley” regional gymnastics meet. This two-day event will take place Dec.15-16 at the Wood River High School gymnasium in Hailey.
Around 300 athletes from all over Idaho and Utah are registered to compete. Everyone from the community is invited to attend.
Spirit N’ Motion is home to several of the top-ranked gymnasts in the state and region (Region 2). In March 2019, SMAS will also be hosting the Xcel Idaho State Championship gymnastics meet, which will bring over 500 athletes to Hailey.
To learn more about the Spirit N’ Motion and its upcoming gymnastics meets, visit spiritnmotion.com.
Sun Valley Resort’s Annual Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting This Weekend
Sun Valley Resort announced in a press release the beginning of the holiday season with the annual Winter Wonderland festivities and events happening throughout December.
This year’s theme in the Sun Valley Village highlights the magical scenes in a snow globe.
This weekend’s first event is “Holiday Storytelling” in the Sun Valley Lodge Sunroom on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 3:30–5:30 p.m. Presented by The Community Library, children of all ages can hear old and new Christmas classics, as read by the library staff. Admission is free and open to the public.
On Friday, Dec. 14, Warren Miller’s “Face of Winter” is screening at the Sun Valley Opera House at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5.50 at the door.
The open-air holiday market on the Sun Valley Village lawn happens from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16.
The tree-lighting ceremony in the Sun Valley Village begins at 5:30 p.m., featuring Santa, live music and free hot cocoa and cookies. A Winter Wonderland scavenger hunt in the Sun Valley Village is happening through Dec. 31.
Details and additional information about the Winter Wonderland holiday events can be found at sunvalley.com/holidays.
St. Luke’s Wood River To Offer Complete Health Improvement Program In February
St. Luke’s Wood River announced in a press release that it will be offering the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), beginning in February. CHIP provides education and tools focusing on all aspects of health, including nutrition, physical activity, becoming resilient, managing stress, building and strengthening relationships, finding meaning and purpose, and maintaining positive change.
CHIP is delivered in 18 sessions using a group format. These sessions include viewing educational and entertaining videos followed by facilitated group discussion and food samples. The participants receive a textbook, workbook, cookbook and exercise workbook. A health risk assessment, blood tests (lipids and hga1c), and biometrics (weight, waist circumference, blood pressure) are done on every participant, pre- and post-program.
The cost of the course is $379 per person and you can bring a spouse or a friend for support. Sarah Seppa is a certified CHIP instructor as well as a registered dietician and clinical nutritionist at St. Luke’s Wood River.
Seppa will provide a sneak peek of what lifestyle medicine and CHIP entails at two free information sessions this week, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the St. Luke’s Hailey Clinic, Carbonate Rooms, and 5:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13 at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, Ketchum, in the Baldy Rooms.
No registration is required for the information sessions. For more information, call (208) 727-8356.
Idaho Rep. Reacts To Investigation Of Nationwide Treatment Of Sexual Assault Kits
According to a press release from the Idaho State House of Representatives, CNN is publishing a report following a nationwide investigation of how sexual assault kits are being handled. The report details hundreds of instances since 2010 involving 25 law enforcement agencies in 14 states—including Idaho—where sexual assault kits were destroyed prior to the statute of limitations running out. The report prompted Washington state’s attorney general to issue a statewide order not to destroy the kits.
Representative Melissa Wintrow is quoted in the story, calling for increased training of law enforcement agencies and calling the problem something the “entire country has to do better on.”
However, Wintrow is encouraged that many of the reforms contemplated in the report are already on the books in Idaho. Over the last three years, Idaho lawmakers have passed legislation: (1) requiring all kits be tested except under limited circumstances; (2) requiring they be stored for up to 55 years; and (3) that the state pay for the cost of processing the kits. In addition, the Idaho State Police Crime Lab has developed software to track the kits throughout the criminal justice process—software being sought by many other states.
The latest phase in Idaho’s transformation on this issue begins in early 2019. The Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratories is using federal grant money to conduct training for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (“SANE”) with a goal of certifying 250 nurses statewide. The program is aimed primarily at rural hospitals where trained staff is scarce for this specific discipline.
Temporary Window To Add Medigap Plan For Those Under 65 Closes December 31
There is still time for Idahoans under the age of 65 on Medicare to take advantage of a temporary three-month time period to purchase a Medicare supplement plan, according to a press release from the Department of Insurance.
The additional time expires at midnight on Dec. 31.
Separate from Medicare’s annual open enrollment period that runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, the three-month window allows those who qualified and enrolled for benefits under Medicare parts A and B to apply for or make changes to part D prescription drug plans and/or Medicare Advantage plans.
Newly eligible beneficiaries under 65 may also buy a Medicare supplement policy within six months of qualifying for coverage, effective Jan. 1.
Medicare beneficiaries with questions can contact the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) with the Idaho Department of Insurance at (800) 247-4422.
Idaho State Police Warns Of Attempted Scams Of People Listed On Sex Offender Registry
The Idaho Central Sex Offender Registry, part of the Idaho State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification, has been made aware of several attempted scams targeting sexual offenders in several Idaho counties, as well as in other states.
According to a press release from the Idaho State Police, one scam involves a caller posing as a law enforcement officer who tells the sexual offender that they have missing or out-of-date registration information. The caller then threatens that, in order to avoid arrest for failure to register, the registrant must bring a gift/money card to a specified location (other than the local law enforcement’s registration office). The caller may provide a callback number with a voice mail message that sounds as if it belongs to the local law enforcement’s registration office.
In another report, the caller says they are with the sheriff’s office and they have a warrant for being noncompliant and the only way to take care of it without being arrested is to go to the store and get a money card and give them the number over the phone.
If contacted, those on the Sex Offender Registry should not follow these instructions. Report any such contact to your local sheriff’s office.
Sun Valley Center For The Arts Presents Film ‘The Irish Pub’
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts announced in a press release that the 2018–2019 Film Series continues Thursday, Jan. 10, with “The Irish Pub”—a documentary film that celebrates what is perhaps the greatest institution in Irish society: the Irish pub, and the interesting characters who own and run these establishments.
The film, which is presented as part of The Center’s BIG IDEA project, “At the Table: Kitchen as Home,” will be shown twice at the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for members of The Center and $12 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets, visit sunvalleycenter.org, call (208) 726-9491 or visit The Center’s box office at 191 Fifth Street East in Ketchum.
Galena & The Trails Winter Benefit To Be Held Jan. 26, 2019
The Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) announced in a press release that the annual Galena & The Trails Winter Benefit will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in the Limelight Room of the Sun Valley Inn. This fun-filled evening brings Nordic, hiking and biking communities together to help raise crucial funds for the maintenance and sustainment of the beloved Galena Lodge and the surrounding trail systems.
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction and drinks, followed by dinner, a live auction, the Stand for Galena paddle raise and ends with dancing to the sounds of the High Street Party Band.
This annual celebration is brought to you by the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD), the Galena and the Trails Advisory Council and Tastevin Wines.
Reservations are now open for this sell-out event at bcrd.org. Tickets are $100 a person and tables are available for eight and 10.
Middle School Choice: Hemingway STEAM And Wood River Middle School Hold Open Houses For Parents And Students
Blaine County School District will now offer a choice when it comes to middle school, according a press release from the district.
Parents can now choose between Ernest Hemingway STEAM School in Ketchum and Wood River Middle School in Hailey.
Starting in the 2019-20 school year, Hemingway’s STEAM School will add eighth grade along with the education integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The school offers elective courses and world languages.
WRMS already offers a well-rounded curriculum that includes world languages and dual immersion. Elective courses and extracurriculars include art, music, technology and athletics. Transportation is provided for middle school students living in Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue for both middle schools.
Parent and student open houses will take place at Hemingway from 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, and at WRMS from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 16.
A tour with the Hemingway principal is available every Friday in January from 1-1:45 p.m.
For more information, visit blaineschools.org.