Chicago, IL – May 5, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a participating agency in the Medicare Fraud Project led by the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly in the Chicago area.  FACHIC will be sharing a monthly Medicare fraud tip to seniors in English and Tagalog.  Please feel free to share the tip widely.

May 2012 Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Program

Many people in Illinois have been receiving phone calls from someone offering “free home services from Medicare.”  These phone calls are a scam. Medicare will never call you to offer “free services.” These callers are trying to get people’s Medicare numbers over the phone, so that they can bill Medicare for thousands of dollars in skilled home care services that they do not provide.  If anyone calls on the phone and asks for your Medicare number, hang up the phone!  Do not accept any services from anyone who calls on the phone or comes to your door.  If you need health care services, call your doctor first to get a prescription.  Your doctor can then help you find a legitimate company to provide the services. If you have given your Medicare number away to someone who called on the phone or came to your door, report it to the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Program at AgeOptions: (800)699-9043.

Mayo 2012 Ang Programang Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol

Maraming tao sa Illinois ang tumatanggap ng tawag sa telepono na may handog na "libreng pangtahanang serbisyo mula sa Medicare". Ang mga tawag na ito ay panloloko. Hindi ka tatawagan ng Medicare para maghandog ng "libreng serbisyo". Ang mga tumatawag na ito ay nanghahagilap lang ng mga numero ng Medicare sa telepono, upang makapag-singil sila sa Medicare ng libu-libong dolyares ng kabayaran para sa dalubhasang serbisyong pangangalaga sa tahanan na hindi naman nila ginawa. Kung mayroong tumawag sa iyo sa telepono at hinihingi ang iyong numero sa Medicare, ibaba kaagad ang telepono! Huwag tumanggap ng serbisyo sa sinumang tatawag sa telepono o  kakatok sa pinto. Kung kailangan mo ng serbisyo sa pangangalaga ng kalusugan, tawagan muna ang iyong duktor para makakuha ng riseta. Ang iyong duktor ay tutulong sa'yo na makakuha ng lehitimong kumpanya na magsasagawa ng mga serbisyo. Kung naibigay mo na ang iyong numero ng Medicare sa isang tao na tumawag sa telepono o kumatok sa'yong pinto, ipaalam sa Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Program sa AgeOptions:  (800)699-9043.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area.  The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community.  FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all.  For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.

Chicago, IL – March 29, 2012.  On Sunday, March 4, 2012, the Illinois Chapter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations held a luncheon forum in Skokie, Illinois in celebration of International Women's History Month. The theme of the forum was "Preparing to Face Economic Uncertainties” with a focus on health and social issues. Two members of the Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) served as forum panelists.

Dr. Yasmin Sacro, FACHIC Medical Director and Assistant Professor of Medicine from the University of Chicago Primary Care Group, spoke to the group about identifying signs and symptoms of heart attack in men and women.  The presentation included a group discussion on the common and uncommon presenting symptoms of myocardial infarction (heart attack), which can range from chest pain and shortness of breath to nausea and jaw or neck pain.  Discussion also included tips on how to manage modifiable risk factors (weight, smoking, blood pressure and blood sugar control) in the setting of non-modifiable risk factors (age, sex, family history).  Particularly emphasized was the importance of visiting and discussing personal risk factors and symptoms with one's own primary care health provider.

John Paul (JP) Jael, FACHIC Collaborations volunteer and Program Coordinator at Asian Human Services, presented on different public programs and benefits available to the community.  JP discussed the different challenges that may prevent Filipino Americans from asking for assistance, including cultural and language barriers and limited knowledge of social service programs presently available to them.  JP also shared practical strategies on how to obtain more information regarding public programs, including looking in Filipino newspapers, networking with church contacts, using the internet, checking with a public library and calling 311.  Community members may also contact the FACHIC volunteer licensed social worker, Sam del Rosario, for social work and case management services that are free by phone (312) 962-7748 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Here is a sampling of programs that are available for individuals and families that are free or have income eligibility.

Chicago, IL – April 3, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a participating agency in the Medicare Fraud Project led by the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly in the Chicago area.  FACHIC will be sharing a monthly Medicare fraud tip to seniors in English and Tagalog.  Please feel free to share the tip widely.

April 2012 Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Program

Watch out for prescription drug fraud – it can cost you and your insurance a lot of money and put your health at risk!  When you go to the pharmacy, count your pills to make sure you receive your full prescription amount.  Also, pay attention to how your pills look, smell, etc. – if you notice any changes, ask your pharmacist why your pills have changed. Finally, read your Explanation of Benefits from your prescription drug insurance plan. Watch for charges for prescriptions that you did not receive, charges for prescriptions that are different than the ones that you receive, or charges for more than what you received. If you have questions about anything you see on these statements, contact the Illinois SMP Program at AgeOptions for help: (800)699-9043.

Abril 2012 Ang Programang Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol

Bantayan ang panlilinlang sa parisetang gamot – malaking halaga ng iyong salapi at ng iyong insurance ang mawawaldas at malalagay sa panganib ang iyong kalusugan!  Pag punta mo sa butika, bilangin mo ang iyong tabletas para masiguro na natanggap mo ang buong halaga ng iyong riseta. Bantayan mo rin ang panlabas na anyo ng iyong tableta, ang amoy nito, atbp - kung may mapansin kang pagbabago, tanungin ang iyong parmasiyotiko kung bakit nagbago ang iyong tabletas. Basahin ang iyong Paunawa ng Mga Benepisyo na galing sa iyong insurance plan ng parisetang gamot. Bantayan kung may mga singil para sa mga riseta na hindi mo tinanggap, mga singil para sa mga riseta na kaiba sa tinanggap mo, o singil na higit pa sa tinanggap mo. Kung mayroon kang  katanungan tungkol sa mga ipinahayag, tawagan ang Illinois SMP Program at AgeOptions sa telepono: (800)699-9043

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area.  The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community.  FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all.  For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.

Chicago, IL — March 20, 2012. Celebrate the tradition of the Filipino piyesta at Navy Pier’s Neighborhoods of the World performance series at "Piyesta Pinoy" on Sunday, April 1, 2012 from 12 PM to 5 PM at Crystal Gardens! Admission is free.

While already part of the Chicago Children’s Museum’s yearly Passport to the World series, this is the first time the Philippines is featured at Navy Pier’s Neighborhoods of the World series honoring Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods and cultural diversity. The famous Crystal Gardens are located on the same floor as the Chicago Children’s Museum. "Piyesta Pinoy" is a landmark opportunity to learn about Philippine culture and traditions, and the meet the community currently living in Chicago.

"Piyesta" is the Filipino translation for celebration, fiesta and festival. In the Philippines, every town and village throws a yearly a festival to honor a patron saint, to celebrate a bountiful harvest or to just have fun. "Piyesta Pinoy" adds to the Chicago Filipino Community’s beloved traditions, usually celebrated in the summer as a reminder of the homeland climate, but acknowledging our adopted country by celebrating in the spring.

"We have several outdoor events in the summer such as the Philippine Independence picnic in June and the Adobofest in September. This will be the first time that we will gather and celebrate in the spring time for a huge Philippine festival and what could be a better place to hold a fiesta in April than indoors in a garden setting at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens," said festival organizer Ruben Salazar of the Philippine American Cultural Foundation.

Performances include the Chicago premiere of Universal Records Philippines recording artist Jay R, with additional performances by the Chicago Angklung & Rondalla Ensemble, hip hop dance group Cryptic Movement Crew, De Paul Asian Cultural Exchange, Hataw Pinoy, Hinsdale FilAm SDA Rondalla, hip hop duo IL Empire, Jeremy Calimag, Lane Tech Kapamilya Habang Buhay, Loyola Kapwa Cultural, PACF Performing Arts, folk fusion band SamaSama Project, St. Isidore Simbang Gabi Dance Crew, Sulyap Pilipino Cultural Dance Company, and Transfiguration Dance Troupe. Winners of University of Illinois at Chicago’s Battle of the Bamboo contest are also scheduled to perform! Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim will give an address. It will be a lively afternoon of music, dance, colorful costumes, authentic cuisine, and local folk arts.

GMA Pinoy TV is bringing R&B singer Jay-R to Chicago from the Philippines to sing in a segment called "Party Pilipinas in Chicago." The Philippines’ Platinum Prince of Soul’s career includes singing, songwriting, record-producing, acting and even modelling. Currently, he hosts GMA Pinoy TV’s variety show "Party Pilipinas", and the host of the Philippine adaptation of dating game show, "Take Me Out". To know more about Jay-R, visit his site at www.jayrsmusic.com and http://www.gmanetwork.com/international.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) will have an interactive, outreach booth for the whole family with free giveaways including Filipino heart healthy recipes, health education and activities for children.

Philippine Fest Chicago is presented by Navy Pier in partnership with the Consulate General of the Philippines and the Philippine American Cultural Foundation and the sponsorship of GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, Comcast and Xfinity. The 2012 Piyesta Pinoy committee in collaboration with several other sponsors, donors, supporters, artists, performers and volunteers are working together to make this festival successful. "We would like to invite you, your families and friends to celebrate and be part of a fiesta, the Philippine traditional way we call "Piyesta Pinoy" right here in Chicago at Crystal Gardens in Navy Pier," said Salazar.

For more information, visit the Piyesta Web site at http://bit.ly/piyesta_chicago.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area. The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community. FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization. All programs and services are free and available to all. For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.