DOWN AND OUT
STRONG QUAKE
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MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014
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Chronic pain care without using drugs BY EMILY THORNTON
Take a class
The World
Photos by Lou Sennick, The World
As the P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization) has done for many years at the Blackberry Arts Festival, they have baked dozens of blackberry pies and cobblers to be sold at the festival. On Saturday, Shari Main, left, and Sharron Cox scoop ice cream on top of slices of pie for hungry customers.
The fine art of blackberries Hundreds of visitors walk along Central Avenue in Coos Bay on Saturday during the Blackberry Arts Festival. Below, several people take advantage of the shade in front of many quilts on display at the festival.
NORTH BEND — For many local residents, chronic pain is debilitating. Whether it stems from disease, surgery or injury, it is often managed with pain medications, which may cause health issues of their own. Massage therapist Sara Hicks and physical therapist Juliette Hyatt hoped to change people’s behavior so they didn’t have to rely on medications through a class they held recently. “Nonpharmaceutical Chronic Pain Relief,” held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday in the Community Health Education Center, had about 20 attendees. “I love the classes,” said Nan Crouse, who has attended several of the offerings at the CHEC. “They have really helped a lot.” The pain class came after successful turnouts from others, such as “The Fire Within,” which taught how to eliminate inflammatory foods from the diet.
Upcoming classes at the Community Health Education Center, 3950 Sherman Ave., North Bend: “The Fire Within,” 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16. “Healing Through Food,” 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. “Non-Pharmaceutical Chronic Pain Relief,” 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. For more information on classes, visit www.bayareahospital.org/calendar_events. aspx or call 541-269-8076.
Focus of the chronic pain class centered on breathing techniques, hydration and daily activity. It also discussed alternatives to medications, such as infrared photo energy, yoga, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, acupuncture/accupressure and physical and occupational therapy. “This is movement medicine,” Hicks said. That included breathSEE PAIN | A8
New directive threatens state’s Medicaid reform PORTLAND (AP) — Officials responsible for implementing ambitious changes to the Oregon Health Plan are worried a new federal directive could undo the state’s Medicaid reform. The directive is outlined in a letter sent to the state this month by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Officials say the new rules could increase costs and force the state to return hundreds of millions of dollars received from the government, The federal Oregonian reported Thursday. At issue is the state’s system for distributing money to the 15 regional coordinated care organizations under the reforms. Oregon’s sweeping reforms
were supposed to create the flexibility to invest in creative programs and services to improve health and reduce costs. Rather than tracking individual procedures and paying a doctor for each service performed, the state gives regional coordinated care organizations a budget of Medicaid funds. For example, using the budget, an organization could buy an air conditioner for an elderly woman with congestive heart failure, sparing the woman a costly trip to a hospital emergency room in hot weather. The model has been championed by Gov. John Kitzhaber, a SEE MEDICAID | A8
Tax refunds may get hit due to health law credits BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Taxes? Who wants to think about taxes around Labor Day? But if you count on your tax refund and you’re one of the millions getting tax credits to help pay health under premiums insurance President Barack Obama’s law, it’s not too early. Here’s why: If your income for
2014 is going to be higher than you estimated when you applied for health insurance, then complex connections between the health law and taxes can reduce or even eliminate your tax refund next year. Maybe you’re collecting more commissions in an improving economy. Or your spouse got a better job. It could trigger an unwelcome surprise. The danger is that as your income grows, you don’t qualify for as much
of a tax credit. Any difference will come out of your tax refund, unless you have promptly reported the changes. Nearly 7 million households have gotten health insurance tax credits, and major tax preparation companies say most of those consumers appear to be unaware of the risk. “More than a third of tax credit recipients will owe some money back, and (that) can lead to some pretty hefty repayment liabilities,”
said George Brandes, vice president for health care programs at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Two basic statistics bracket the potential exposure: The average tax credit for subsidized coverage on the new health insurance exchanges is $264 a month,or $3,168 for a full 12 months. The average tax refund is about $2,690. Having to pay back even as little as 10 percent of your tax credit can
reduce your refund by several hundred dollars. Tax giant H&R Block says consumers whose incomes grew as the year went on should act now and contact HealthCare.gov or their state insurance exchange to update their accounts. They will pay higher health insurance premiums for the rest of this year, but they can avoid financial SEE REFUNDS | A8
Be well and fish on! Unique program gives cancer survivors a chance to forget about life for a while and just enjoy nature
INSIDE
ELKTON — A short distance from the town of Elkton sits a little stretch of river that provides a welcome stream of forgetfulness for those who are seeking such a thing. A national program called Reel Recovery is in the (nonprofit) business of bringing those people to the river. Loran Wiese is the Oregon
Police reports . . . . A2 40 Stories . . . . . . . A2 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
coordinator for the national organization that is responsible for taking men who are fighting cancer fly-fishing. “We of course believe in the recuperative powers of being on the water fly fishing and discussing the affects of life changing cancer,” he says. Which may have something to do with their motto: Be Well, Fish On! According to the group’s website, Reel Recovery was
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founded in 2003 by a group of avid fly-fishers, inspired by their fishing buddy’s ongoing battle with brain cancer. They work to combine expert fly-fishing instruction with directed “courageous conversations.” A pairing that provides men, with all forms of cancer, the unique opportunity “to share their stories, learn a new skill, form lasting friendSEE RECOVERY | A8
By Tim Novotny, The World
Reel Recovery is a national program that gives men who are fighting cancer a couple of days to get away from the stress that often surrounds the life-changing illness. It also provides a chance to meet and talk with others facing the same challenge.
Syrian warning Officials warn the U.S. not to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria without Syria’s consent. Page A7
FORECAST
The World
WORLD
BY TIM NOVOTNY
Partly sunny 72/56 Weather | A8