Medicare

Carson Tahoe Health’s Long-Term Acute Care Hospital has been granted a 3-year accreditation by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality, and the LTACH is now officially designated as Nevada’s only CIHQ “Center of Excellence.”

Coming summer 2016, gaining access to complete breast imaging services in Carson City will be easier and more convenient than ever before. Michelle Joy, Chief Operating Officer of Carson Tahoe Health, announced Tuesday the plans for a comprehensive Breast Center at Sierra Surgery, located on the Carson Tahoe Medical Campus.

It is finally Friday. Leave the workweek behind and go have some fun. The Carson Nugget is a one-stop shop for a good time: food, drinks, comedy, and then a late night DJ all under one roof. Check out local favorites, the Whitehats, performing at Westside Pour House. Don’t miss West Coast Swing night at Yaple’s Ballroom. Karaoke lovers can choose between Carson Lanes and Whiskey Tavern.

FRIDAY:

• Free Swim Day for all students with valid Student ID at Carson Hot Springs (7am-10pm; April special offer includes outdoor pool only)

Looking for a change of pace? Join Muscle Powered as they take a hike up Deadman’s Creek in Washoe Valley. Feeling spicy? The weekend is almost here, so step out of your normal routine and try salsa lessons at El Charro Avita. Red’s Old 395 has an incredible happy hour with half off draft beers today and a yummy menu. Rack ‘em up at Remedy’s free pool night. Limited Time Only plays tonight at Living the Good Life, but one look at the band and you’ll recognize most the guys from Notch 8.

THURSDAY:

Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan will make stops next month in Carson City and Yerington, officials announced Wednesday.

The mobile Mammovan aims to make mammography services accessible and convenient for women by visiting locations across Nevada. These screenings are primarily for women age 40 and older; however screenings will be provided to those younger than 40 who have a physician referral.

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting a steady increase of positive Influenza flu cases. Overall, Carson City, Lyon and Douglas counties saw 27 cases testing positive for influenza.

About 59 percent of those tested were positive for Influenza strain B, which is a slightly higher percentage of this specific strain than was seen in previous years at this time. CCHHS encourages providers to continue to report positive influenza testing to the Health Department as it helps to monitor influenza activity.

Welcome to Wednesday, Carson City. I want to remind you that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, so make your dinner reservations soon if you are planning a night out. Enjoy some lunchtime live music with Dave Leather at Comma Coffee. Dinner music can be found at Sassafras, Glen Eagles, and Living the Good Life. Help Linda Arnn Arteno celebrate her new exhibit in Comma Coffee’s Backseat Gallery. Opera lovers can catch an encore of the Metropolitan Opera performance of Turandot at Galaxy Theaters.

This week's edition of It's Your City with host Cortney Bloomer features guest Colleen Petrosky from Nevada Health Centers. The two discuss the mobile Mammovan that arrives in Carson City this Wednesday, Feb. 3.

If an employee receives tangible personal property such as skis, tires, clocks, television sets, radios, clothing, etc. and the value is not more than $400, then it can be tax free if it qualifies as an employee achievement award.

That is tax free of income, social security, medicare and unemployment taxes for both the employee and the employer. The award can not be cash, gift certificates, vacations, meals, lodging, tickets to events, stocks, bonds or other securities.

Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan will be making stops beginning next week around northern Nevada. There will screenings in Carson City, Virginia City, Yerington and Reno.

The mobile Mammovan aims to make mammography services accessible and convenient for women by visiting locations across Nevada. These screenings are primarily for women age 40 and older; however, screenings will be provided to those younger than 40 that have a physician referral.

Doing gifts to a grandchild can be a good idea, if you have intent to help the grandchild and the "extra" money to do so.

The "Annual Exclusion" (amount that is not a taxable gift) is $14,000 for each person you give to for years 2015 and 2016. Also, payments directly to the educational institution, medical provider or medical insurance company for that grandchild also are Annual Exclusion gifts in addition to the $14,000 check. It is also OK to give a lesser amount.

Do you want to build a snowman, Carson City? That may be ambitious with our first dusting of snow, but I’m sure you could finagle a snowball or two.

This week on It's Your City host Cortney Bloomer welcomes Valerie Dockery of the Carson City School District to discuss the recent partnership with Nevada Health Centers and its new health clinic that opened in conjunction with the school district.

Before you catch a chill, head down to the Community Flu Shot Clinic held this afternoon at the Fire Station by the Carson City Airport. Warm up from the inside at Tahoe Ridge Winery’s monthly Ladies Night: Women In Need Of Sanity. Crooners Jimmy Mallett and Jack Clifton are just the recipe for a hot time at Living the Good Life. . Rick Radecki sizzles as he returns with his Flashback Thursdays show at the Casino Fandango. Things get spicy at El Charro Avita: salsa dance lessons are tonight.

THURSDAY:

Carson City Health and Human Services will host flu vaccination clinics this Thursday and next Tuesday as it continues to help build community immunity. By getting a flu vaccine this year, citizens are not only protecting themselves but others from falling ill to the flu.

The Carson City School District and Nevada Health Centers announced that it will open a new school-based health center on Musser Street behind the Professional Development Center, formerly Gleason Elementary School.

To facilitate the opening, there were be a ribbon cutting celebration Thursday with the Carson City Chamber of Commerce and officials from the Carson City School District and Nevada Health Centers Tours and refreshments will be provided. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. This center is located at 618 W. Musser Street.

Community flu vaccination events are being held in October and November in Carson City and Douglas County.
Each fall, the flu returns and brings with it the fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, muscle aches and fatigue that many of us dread.

Anybody out there dabbling in the stock market? Do you own any qualified dividend producing stock? Here are some thoughts on how to maximize your tax savings.

First, you need to know the "rules" of the game. Basically if your tax bracket is no higher than 15 percent then any income earned on Capital Gains and/or Qualified Dividends is taxed at ZERO percent until such income pushes you into the 25 percent tax bracket.

It’s finally Friday with plenty of happenings to choose from. Start out with some coffee on Supervisor Bonokowski at the Cracker Box. Enjoy a free bbq lunch at Meek’s Lumber. Tea and cookies await at Browser’s Corner Book Shop to celebrate the Friends of the Carson Library’s Anniversary. Tickle your funny bone at first Fridays Improv at the Brewery Arts Center. Satisfy your craving for live music at Sassafras, Bella Fiore, or Living the Good Life. Let the theater feed your soul: Carson High School presents the Importance of Being Earnest at the Community Center.

FRIDAY:

• Nevada’s Manufacturing Month breakfast at the Governor’s Annex: 606 Mountain St. (6:30am; $35)
• Monthly ‘Breakfast with Supervisor Brad’ Bonokowski at the Cracker Box (7am; open to Carson City residents, the coffee is on Brad)

The first week of October marks the official start of flu season in the United States. Beginning in October and lasting through May, flu season is the period when flu germs are most likely to be circulating and to make people sick.

CARSON CITY — Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio brought his Republican presidential campaign to rural Nevada on Tuesday, calling for a stronger military, more vocational training in the education system and reforms to Social Security and Medicare.

Of course you need to consider the financial aspects of living in retirement. But thinking about when to retire is also important. First there is being emotionally ready. For some folks, their work provides a sense of fulfillment.

Congress completed work last week on a bill that overhauls the way Medicare pays doctors, ending a long practice of short-term fixes that was threatening medical services to seniors....

A recent Tax Court case, McCarthy v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2015-50 is an illustration of how it is easy to be confused about retirement benefits and taxation of some Social Security benefits.

The taxpayers are a married couple. She was a retired nurse with state retirement benefits. He worked for wages that were subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. He got Social Security benefits of $19,132 from his earnings history. They were both age 82 and lived in Ohio.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a new challenge to President Barack Obama’s healthcare law that took aim at a bureaucratic board labeled by some Republicans as a “death panel” because it was designed to cut Medicare costs....

House Republicans and Democrats came together last week to resolve a decade-old deficiency in the way doctors are reimbursed by Medicare....

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill to permanently repair the formula for reimbursing Medicare physicians, marking a rare bipartisan achievement and sending the issue next to the Senate....

Western Nevada College non-credit Community Education classes not only offer job skill preparation, they also help build life skills and provide help with personal health. Several classes are on tap this spring that will provide benefits to local residents.

It is not enough to pay income tax and when you die there may be a death tax. If you have household employees (not independent contractors) you as the employer must withhold and pay FICA taxes on their wages if the cash wages paid during 2014 or 2015 total $1,900 or more.

The employment taxes for household employees is reported on Schedule H of form 1040 of the employer (the one who pays the wages).

This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 48th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.