MyZiva.net | Glossary

Abuse, Elder

The maltreatment or neglect of older persons by caregivers in a domestic or institutional setting.

Adult Day Care

Structured day programs for seniors that provide nursing, rehabilitation and personal services.

Adult Homes

Senior residences for individuals who are able to function independently, with limited support and assistance.

Accredited (Accreditation)

Having a seal of approval. Being accredited means that a facility or health care organization has met certain quality standards. These standards are set by private, nationally recognized groups that check on the quality of care of health care facilities and organizations.

Admitting Physician

The doctor responsible for admitting a patient to a hospital or other inpatient health facility.

Advance Directives

Written documents that serve as an individual's instructions regarding health care or property management. These include the health care proxy, the living will, and the power of attorney.

Advocate

A person who gives you support or protects your rights.

Age Discrimination

A determination based solely on age, whereby one individual is selected over another.

Alternative Medicine

Medical treatment and/or medicine that is not categorized as traditional.

Alzheimer's Disease

The most common cause of dementia, whereby parts of the brain degenerate, causing further damage. Its cause is unknown.

Ambulatory Care

All types of health services that do not require an overnight hospital stay.

Ancillary Services

Professional services by a hospital or other inpatient health program. These may include x-ray, drug, laboratory, or other services.

Anorexia Nervosa

A medical condition whereby an individual is preoccupied with being fat, and therefore, eats very little.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

State and local programs that help older people plan and care for their life-long needs. These needs include adult day care, skilled nursing care/therapy, transportation, personal care, respite care, and meals.

Assessment

The gathering of information to rate or evaluate your health and needs, such as in a nursing home.

Arteries, Hardening of

see Artherosclerosis

Arthritis

A catch-all term for more than one hundred diseases that affect the joints.

Assets

Al income and financial resources of the individual and the individual's spouse.

Assisted Living

A type of living arrangement in which personal care services such as meals, housekeeping, transportation, and assistance with activities of daily living are available as needed to people who still live on their own in a residential facility. In most cases, the "assisted living" residents pay a regular monthly rent. Then, they typically pay additional fees for the services they get.

Asthma

A medical condition characterized by constriction or spasms of the airway passages.

Atherosclerosis

A precursor to cardiovascular disease, caused by cholesterol-laden plaque buildup in the coronary arteries that feed the heart. Also known as hardening of the arteries.

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)

Enlargement of the prostate gland.

Bulimia

A medical condition whereby an individual rapidly eats a lot of food at one time (binges), then purges the food by inducing vomiting or using laxatives and/or diuretics; dieting rigorously; or exercising excessively to counteract the bingeing.

Caregivers, Family

Individuals who provide varying degrees of assistance for an older person in that older person's home. Generally, family caregivers include an adult child, sibling, or other relative who lives near-by.

Caregivers, for the Elderly

Individuals who provide varying degrees of assistance for an older person in that person's home.

Care Plan

A written plan for your care. It tells what services you will get to reach and keep your best physical, mental, and social well being.

Carrier

A private company that has a contract with Medicare to pay your Medicare Part B bills.

Case Management

A process used by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional to manage your health care. Case managers make sure that you get needed services, and track your use of facilities and resources.

Case Manager

A nurse, doctor, or social worker who arranges all services that are needed to give proper health care to a patient or group of patients.

CCRCs

See Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

The federal agency that runs the Medicare program. In addition, CMS works with the States to run the Medicaid program. CMS works to make sure that the beneficiaries in these programs are able to get high quality health care.

Certified (Certification)

This means a long-term facility has passed an inspection survey done by a State government agency. Being certified is not the same as being accredited. Medicare or Medicaid only covers care in a certified facility or program.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

CNAs are trained and certified to help nurses by providing non-medical assistance to patients, such as help with eating, cleaning and dressing.

CMI

Case Mix Index, the relative quantitative value of the resident population as classified into the resident classification groups (RUGs) (Peculiar to New York State)

Cognitive Impairment

A breakdown in a person's mental state that may affect a person's moods, fears, anxieties,.

Complaint

(See Grievance.)

Confidentiality

Your right to talk with your health care provider without anyone else finding out what you have said.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

Health insurance coverage, which is mandated, with certain restrictions.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

A housing community that provides different levels of care based on what each resident needs over time. This is sometimes called "life care" and can range from independent living in an apartment to assisted living to full-time care in a nursing home. Residents move from one setting to another based on their needs but continue to live as part of the community. Care in CCRCs is usually expensive. Generally, CCRCs require a large payment before you move in and charge monthly fees.

Continuous Period of Institutionalization

At least 30 consecutive days of care in a medical institution and/or nursing facility, or at least 30 consecutive days of home and community-based waivered services or a combination of institutional and home and community-based waivered services for at least 30 consecutive days. A continuous period is presumed to cease upon discharge from the medical institution.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

A senior facility that accommodates a person through various stages of aging by offering a wide range of services.

Copayment

In some Medicare health plans, the amount you pay for each medical service, like a doctor's visit. A copayment is usually a set amount you pay for a service. For example, this could be $5 or $10 for a doctor's visit. Copayments are also used for some hospital outpatient services in the Original Medicare Plan.

Coronary Angiography

The most accurate tool for evaluating coronary artery disease. Also known as cardiac catherization.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

A medical condition whereby the coronary arteries are narrowed or completely blocked.

Cost Sharing

The cost for medical care that you pay yourself like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible.

Countable Resources

Available resources which are not disregarded.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

A stroke caused by the loss of a blood supply to a particular portion of the brain.

Custodial Care

Nonskilled, personal care, such as help with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed or chair, moving around, and using the bathroom. It may also include care that most people do themselves, like using eye drops. Medicare does not pay for custodial care.

Daycare, Adult

An adult daytime healthcare facility that offers structured programs, as well as nursing, rehabilitation, and personal services.

Decedent

A deceased individual.

Deductible (Medicare)

The amount you must pay for health care before Medicare begins to pay, either for each benefit period for Part A, or each year for Part B. These amounts can change every year.

Deficiency (Nursing Home)

A finding that a nursing home failed to meet one or more federal or state requirements.

Dehydration

A serious condition where your body's loss of fluid is more than your body's intake of fluid.

Diabetes

A disease defined by a serum blood sugar level exceeding 126.

Designated Representative

Individual designated to receive information and to assist and/or act in behalf of a particular resident to the extent permitted by State law. He/she receives any written and oral information required to be provided to the resident if such resident lacks the capacity to understand or make use of such information, and will participate in decisions and choices regarding the care, treatment and well-being of the resident if such resident lacks the capacity to make such decisions and choices. The DR is not the same as the agent appointed as a Health Care Proxy.

Diagnosis

The name for the health problem.

Disability Insurance

Coverage that protects an individual financially if that individual is unable to work due to an incapacity as defined by the policy.

Discharge Planning

A process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another. This is done by a social worker or other health care professional. It includes moves from a hospital to a nursing home or to home care. Discharge planning may also include the services of home health agencies to help with the patient's home care.

Disenroll

Ending your health care coverage with a health plan.

DME:

Durable medical equipment. There are three types of DME: Standard: Items able to be used by a number of different residents, such as wheelchairs, tilt-in-space seating features and patient-controlled electric hospital beds Customized (or custom-fitted): Standard equipment modified to meet a resident's needs which, once customization is no longer necessary, can be changed or returned to stock for use by another resident
Custom-made: Equipment fabricated for the sole use by a particular resident which cannot be readily changed to meet another resident's medical needs
Indirect Price: The monetary amount established for the indirect component of the rate, based on the indirect costs of all nursing facilities in the specific peer group, after application of a wage equalization factor, divided by the resident days in that specific peer group.

Dual Eligibles

Persons who are entitled to Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) and who are also eligible for Medicaid.

Eldercare

Public, private, formal, and informal programs and support systems, government laws, and finding ways to meet the needs of the elderly, including: housing, home care, pensions, Social Security, long-term care, health insurance, and elder law.

Excess (Surplus) Resources

Available resources, which are in excess of the resource exemption level.

Family Caregivers

See Caregivers, Family.

Family Counseling

Professional advice that may include a number of domestic issues, including marriage, children, education, divorce, and abuse.

Fee Schedule

A complete listing of fees used by health plans to pay doctors or other providers.

Fraud and Abuse

Fraud: To purposely bill for services that were never given or to bill for a service that has a higher reimbursement than the service produced. Abuse: Payment for items or services that are billed by mistake by providers, but should not be paid for by Medicare. This is not the same as fraud.

Free Application for Federal Assistance (FAFSA)

A financial aid form required by most colleges and universities before financial aid can be calculated.

Fiduciary

A person who has been appointed to act in a position of trust or confidence. This person is obligated to act in good faith. Examples include a trustee, an executor/trix, a guardian, a partner, an administrator/trix, and a personal representative.

Financial Planning

Determining how one will handle one's financial assets, including current and future saving, investing, and spending practices.

Functional Incontinence

A strong urge to urinate that stems primarily from external factors, such as diueretics. It may also stem from physical disabilities, such as arthritis, which prevent a person from getting quickly to the bathroom.

Gaps

The costs or services that are not covered under the Original Medicare Plan.

German Reparations

Payments to residents that are exempt from use as Medicaid payments.

Grievance

A complaint about the way your Medicare health plan is giving care. For example, you may file a grievance if you have a problem with the cleanliness of the health care facility, problems calling the plan, staff behavior, or operating hours. A grievance is not the way to deal with a complaint about a treatment decision or a service that is not covered.

Guardian of the Person

A person who is legally responsible for a minor's care and custody. This person may be named by a Will's maker or appointed by a court if the Will has made no provisions for the minor.

Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)

Former name of the government agency now called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Health Care Provider

A person who is trained and licensed to give health care. Also, a place licensed to give health care. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, some assisted living facilities, and certain kinds of home health agencies are examples of health care providers.

HMO

Health maintenance organization (HMO), an organized system of providing health care that combines two basic functions -- delivery of services and financing. A physician may be an employee of the HMO or may independently contract with the HMO to provide services to patients. HMOs contract with employers or individual subscribers who pay periodic membership premiums. The periodic premiums do not fluctuate in relation to the number or extent of services received.

Home Health Agency

An organization that gives home care services, like skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and care by home health aides.

Home Health Care

Skilled nursing care and certain other health care you get in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury.

Hospice

Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, and for their family. This care includes physical care and counseling. Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).

Hydration

This is the level of fluid in the body. The loss of fluid, or dehydration, occurs when you lose more water or fluid than you take in. Your body cannot keep adequate blood pressure, get enough oxygen and nutrients to the cells, or get rid of wastes if it has too little fluid.

Hypertension

Abnormally elevated blood pressure.

Inpatient Care

Health care that you get when you are admitted to a hospital.

Income Trust

A Trust whereby the Trustee oversees the funds, paying out an annual income to the Trust's beneficiaries.

Incontinence

The inability to control urine flow.

Institutionalized Spouse

A person who is in a medical institution or nursing facility and is expected to remain for at least 30 consecutive days; or is in receipt of home and community-based waivered services and is expected to receive such services for at least 30 consecutive days; or is in a medical institution/nursing facility or in receipt of home and community-based services and is expected to receive a combination of institutional services and home and community-based waivered services for at least 30 consecutive days; and is married to a person who is not described in the three items above.

Insulin

A pancreas-produced hormone that lowers blood sugar levels. Minimal or a total lack of insulin production is characteristic of juvenile diabetes (Type 1 diabetes). The pancreas' inability to respond appropriately by producing the correct amount of insulin (often producing too much insulin) is characteristic of Type 2 diabetes.

Irrevocable Living Trust

A Trust that allows an asset's ownership transfer without giving the recipient total access to that asset. See also Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust.

Joint Account

An account that is held in two or more names. Each individual has complete access to the account. When one owner dies, that person's interest passes equally to the remaining owner(s).

Joint and Survivor Annuity

A fixed sum paid at regular intervals through the lifetimes of the owners of the annuity. Upon the death of one owner, the surviving owner continues to receive the same or a reduced payment. Typically, spouses would have this type of annuity.

LDSS

Local Department of Social Services

Legally Responsible Relative (LRR)

A relative who, by law, is responsible for the support and care of another person.

Liability Insurance

An insurance contract that ensures some sort of compensation, as designated in the policy, if the conditions under which one suffers a loss are covered in the policy.

Licensed (licensure)

This means a long-term care facility has met certain standards set by a State or local government agency.

LPN (Licenced Practical Nurse)

a licensed nurse who works with the Registered Nurse under the direction of a physician and provides care to the resident.

Living Trust

A Trust created during one's lifetime. It is often established to ensure one's own personal and financial welfare in the event of incapacity or to minmize the time and expense of a probate proceeding. Also known as an Inter Vivos Trust.

Long-term Care

A "variety" of services that help people with health or personal needs and activities of daily living over a period of time. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilties. Most long-term care is custodial care. Medicare does not pay for this type of care.

Long-term Care Insurance

A private insurance policy to help pay for some long-term medical and non-medical care, like help with activities of daily living. Because Medicare generally does not pay for long-term care, this type of insurance policy may help provide coverage for long-term care that you may need in the future. Some long-term care insurance policies offer tax benefits; these are called "Tax-Qualified Policies."

Long-term Care Ombudsman

An independent advocate (supporter) for nursing home and assisted living facility residents who works to solve problems between residents and nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Look-Back Period

When an individual in receipt of or applying for nursing facility services transfers assets, the look-back date is 36 months prior to the first day of the month in which the individual was both institutionalized and submitted an application for full medical assistance coverage, including coverage of nursing facility services.

Malnutrition

A health problem caused by the lack (or too much) of needed nutrients.

NAMI

Net Amount of Monthly Income, the amount of the resident's income from pension, Social Security and other sources applied against the Medicaid bill.

Neglect

When care takers do not give a person they care for the goods or services needed to avoid harm or illness.

Network

A group of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care experts hired by a health plan to take care of its members.

No-fault Insurance

No-fault insurance is insurance that pays for health care services resulting from bodily injury or damage to your property regardless of who is at fault for causing the accident.

Nonparticipating Physician

A doctor or supplier who does not accept assignment on all Medicare claims.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

A nurse who has 2 or more years of advanced training and has passed a special exam. A nurse practitioner often works with a doctor and can do some of the things a doctor does.

Nursing Home Administrator

An individual specially licensed who is charged with and has responsibility for the general administration of a nursing facility.

Nursing Home

A living facility that may provide its clients with any combination of skilled nursing and/or medical needs, as well as personal care needs, including dressing, eating, toileting, and walking.

Nutrition

Getting enough of the right foods with vitamins and minerals a body needs to stay healthy. Malnutrition, or the lack of proper nutrition, can be a serious problem for older people.

Occupational Therapy

Services given to help you return to usual activities (such as bathing, preparing meals, housekeeping) after illness either on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

Ombudsman

An advocate (supporter) who works to solve problems between residents and nursing homes, as well as assisted living facilities. Also called "Long-term Care Ombudsman."

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Health care costs that you must pay on your own because they are not covered by Medicare or other insurance.

Outpatient Care

Medical or surgical care that does not include an overnight hospital stay.

Outpatient Services

A service you get in one day (24 hours) at a hospital outpatient department or community mental health center.

Organ Donation

The contribution of one's body organs after one's death, such that a living person may benefit from those organs. The organ donor must specify that s/he wants his/her organs to be used upon death.

Osteoarthritis

A type of degenerative arthritis, whereby the cartilage cushion within the joint breaks down, thus causing further degeneration to the adjacent bone(s).

Osteoporosis

A progressive decrease in bone density that ultimately makes bones weak and brittle.

PAF

Personal Account Fund, a fiduciary account set up for the resident's fund.

Parkinson's Disease

A degenerative, nervous system disorder characterized by shaking, sluggishness when initiating movements, and muscle stiffness.

Penalty Period

The penalty period resulting from a transfer of assets for nursing home care is determined by a calculation based on the uncompensated value of the assets transferred.

Personal Allowance Account

Holds the funds that a patient is allowed to maintain from his/her monthly income ($50 per month)

PHO

Physician hospital organization (PHO), an arrangement in which at least one hospital and one physician jointly provide health care services. The decision to form a PHO is based on a belief that physicians and hospitals benefit from sharing risks of the arrangement. A hospital and a group of participating physicians (usually on the medical staff of the hospital) may form a PHO. The PHO joint venture allows an individual physician to maintain ownership of his or her private practice.

Physician Network

A series of POs linked together in a common structure, such as a limited partnership or limited liability company. The local POs serve the interests of their immediate area, while the network entity provides contracting strength with managed care organizations.

PNA

Personal Needs Allowance, the amount set aside to meet the personal needs for persons who are residing in a medical institution or have community spouses and are in receipt of home and community-based waivered services

PO

Physician organization (PO), created as a separate legal entity similar to a PHO. However, unlike a PHO, the PO is organized without hospital affiliation. POs are formed as joint ventures of primary care and specialty physicians for contracting with insurers and employers. It may also serve as a risk-bearing entity to receive capitation. A PO may be limited to physicians of a single hospital staff, or group practices from multiple locations and hospital medical staffs.

PPO

Preferred provider organization (PPO), a contractual arrangement between a panel of preferred providers and an insurance company, self-insured employer, third-party administrator (TPA), or managed care organization in order to provide services for fixed fees. Physicians may form a PPO to market their services directly to employers. Licensing for PPOs varies by state depending on the organizer. For example, insurance companies that organize PPOs are subject to the insurance licensing regulations.

PRI

The Patient Review Instrument, the New York State document utilized to collect data and information with which to determine the appropriate RUGs category that an individual resident is classified as.

Power of Attorney

A legal document that one signs, giving another party(ies) the authority to make certain property, financial, and other legal decisions on behalf of the signer.

Patient Advocate

A person whose job is to speak on a patient's behalf and help patients get any information or services they need.

Peer Review Organization (PRO)

Former name for Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs).

Physical Therapy

Treatment of injury and disease by mechanical means, as heat, light, exercise, and massage.

Physician Assistant (PA)

A person who has 2 or more years of advanced training and has passed a special exam. A physician assistant works with a doctor and can do some of the things a doctor does.

Plan of Care

Your doctor's written plan saying what kind of services and care you need for your health problem.

Premium

The periodic payment to Medicare, an insurance company, or a health care plan for health care coverage.

Primary Care Doctor

A doctor who is trained to give you basic care. Your primary care doctor is the doctor you see first for most health problems. He or she makes sure that you get the care that you need to keep you healthy. He or she also may talk with other doctors and health care providers about your care and refer you to them. In many Medicare managed care plans, you must see your primary care doctor before you see any other health care provider.

Primary Payer

An insurance policy, plan, or program that pays first on a claim for medical care. This could be Medicare or other health insurance.

Procedure

Something done to fix a health problem or to learn more about it. For example, surgery, tests, and putting in an IV (intravenous line) are procedures.

Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE combines medical, social, and long-term care services for frail people. PACE is available only in states that have chosen to offer it under Medicaid. To be eligible, you must:
- Be 55 years old, or older,
- Live in the service area of the PACE program,
- Be certified as eligible for nursing home care by the appropriate state agency , and
- Be able to live safely in the community.
The goal of PACE is to help people stay independent and live in their community as long as possible, while getting high quality care they need.

Provider

A doctor, hospital, health care professional, or health care facility.

Prostate

A male organ located beneath the bladder. The prostate produces fluid to nourish the sperm.

Prostate Cancer

A slow-growing, progressive cancer of the prostate gland. There are often no symptoms, or symptoms may resemble benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Psychotherapy

Treatment by a mental health professional, whereby psychologic techniques are used. Settings may be one-on-one with the therapist, in a group, or with the family. Therapists may include psychiatrists (who may administer drugs), psychologists, some pastoral counselors, nurses, and social workers.

Qualified Personal Residence Trust

A Trust that allows one to transfer his/her residence/vacation property to a Trust on a highly leveraged transfer tax basis and still collect income from or use the property for the Trust's term. This Trust is often used to freeze the value of estate assets for tax purposes.

Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust

A Trust that allows one to dictate how his/her property will be distributed upon the death of the surviving spouse.

Quality

Quality is how well the health plan keeps its members healthy or treats them when they are sick. Good quality health care means doing the right thing at the right time, in the right way, for the right person and getting the best possible results.

Quality Assurance

The process of looking at how well a medical service is provided. The process may include formally reviewing health care given to a person, or group of persons, locating the problem, correcting the problem, and then checking to see if what you did worked.

Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)

Groups of practicing doctors and other health care experts. They are paid by the federal government to check and improve the care given to Medicare patients. They must review your complaints about the quality of care given by: inpatient hospitals, hospital outpatient departments, hospital emergency rooms, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, Private Fee-for-Service plans, and ambulatory surgical centers.

Railroad Pensions

Money from railroad payments is applied to Medicaid payments as NAMI

Rectal Cancer

A slow, progressive cancer of the rectum. There are often no symptoms until the cancer is extensive. Bleeding during a bowel movement is often the first symptom that one experiences.

Reparation Payment

A payment made to correct a previous wrong that has been done. For example, many United States' Holocaust survivors and their heirs have received payments.

Referral

An OK from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain services. In many Medicare managed care plans, you need to get a referral before you get care from anyone except your primary care doctor. If you do not get a referral first, the plan may not pay for your care.

Respite Care

Temporary or periodic care provided in a nursing home, assisted living residence, or other type of long-term care program so that the usual caregiver can rest or take some time off.

Restraint

Any physical or chemical way to stop a patient from being free to move. These restraints are used to prevent patient injury and are not used for treating medical symptoms.

Revocable Living Trust

See Inter Vivos Trust.

Risk Management

Determining an individual's risk level by weighing the major investment risks of inflation, market, and the investment management.

RN (Registered Nurse)

is a licensed professional who provides health care under the direction of a physician. They usually manage the resident's overall plan of care in the nursing home.

RUGs

Resource Utilization Groups, the resident category in the Medicaid reimbursement methodology that identifies the relative use of staff resources (care and services) required by different types of residents in a nursing facility. (Peculiar to New York State)

Second Opinion

This is when another doctor gives his or her view about what you have and how it should be treated

Side Effect

A problem caused by treatment. For example, medicine you take for high blood pressure may make you feel sleepy. Most treatments have side effects.

Skilled Care

A type of health care given when you need skilled nursing or rehabilitation staff to manage, observe, and evaluate your care.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A nursing facility with the staff and equipment to give skilled nursing care and/or skilled rehabilitation services and other related health services.

Specialist

A doctor who treats only certain parts of the body, certain health problems, or certain age groups. For example, some doctors treat only heart problems.

Springing Durable Power of Attorney

A conditional legal document that one signs, giving another party(ies) the authority to make certain property, financial, and other legal decisions on behalf of the signer. The authorization to act by the springing durable power of attorney depends on the occurrence of a certain event that is identified in the document, such as the certified mental incapacity of the signer.

Spenddown

The use of medical expenses to reduce available net income/resources in excess of the medically needy income/resource levels. Spenddown is only available to individuals whose eligibility is determined under state medically needy income/resources levels. The individual must submit paid or incurred bills equal to or greater than the amount of any excess. The individual must also pay the amount of the excess income to the local Department of Social Services.

SSI

Supplemental Security Income, a federally supported and administered benefit program for eligible individuals or couples who are age 65 or older or who, regardless of age, are certified blind or disabled

State Insurance Department

A state agency that regulates insurance and can provide information about Medigap policies and any insurance-related problem.

State Medical Assistance Office

A state agency that is in charge of the State's Medicaid program and can provide information about programs to help pay medical bills for people with low incomes. Also provides help with prescription drug coverage.

Stroke

See Cerebrovascular Accident.

Supplier

Generally, any company, person, or agency that gives you a medical item or service, like a wheelchair or walker.

TBI

Traumatic Brain-Injured Program/Residents

Treatment

Something done to help with a health problem. For example, medicine and surgery are treatments.

Treatment Options

The choices you have when there is more than one way to treat your health problem.

TRICARE

TRICARE is the health care program for active duty members of the military, military retirees, and their eligible dependents. TRICARE was called CHAMPUS in the past.

Triglycerides

A major fat found in the blood. The affect of a high-level of triglycerides as a contributing factor to heart disease or stroke is uncertain, although a level of 250 mg/dL is considered abnormal. Levels above 800 mg/dL may result in pancreatitis.

Urinary Incontinence

The inability to control urine flow. It may be caused by drugs, or physical, emotional, and/or mental problems.

Vision Impairment

A temporary or permanent disturbance in what is classified as "normal" vision. Its causes may include aging, disease, injury, and genetic factors.

Workers Compensation

Insurance that employers are required to have to cover employees who get sick or injured on the job.

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