*As a sponsor of this educational event, National CooperativeRx is pleased to provide you and your benefits team with a $200 discount.  This lowers your registration fee to $795 each when you register by February 23, 2012.

To Register:  

* Register here  and enter the code YNCR  

* Call the Conference Registrar at 800-864-2063

1. Lace up your skates. During the winter it's often too cold, too dark, or too slippery to walk or run outside. To get in a great workout, try ice skating -- whether you go to a local pond for a pickup game of hockey, or to the local ice rink (which also offers the advantage of no wind chill).
2. Try thermal underwear. If you really need to be outside in frigid weather, add a layer of thermal underwear, which will keep you both warm and dry by wicking sweat away from your body.
3. Don't push it. On days when the air feels too cold to even breathe in, heed your body's signals and stay indoors. Cold air can trigger exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
4. Try a new home routine. Bodyweight routines are exercises that need no equipment and can be done in your own home. There are many types of bodyweight routines, such as yoga, Pilates, and aerobics. Pop in a fitness DVD or download a workout on your MP3 player to get you going.
5. Set up your own gym. Now's the time to think about getting a treadmill, elliptical machine, or stationary bike. Having your own equipment and knowing how to use it will keep you motivated and help you stay on track.

Health News Digest.  Did you or someone you know miss the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare?  This article provides a short list of tips to help maximize Medicare drug benefits in the coming year, and strategies to change plans if necessary. (Blair, 12/21)  Full story  

HealthDay.   A new study suggests that people prescribed medication for high blood pressure or hypertension can add years to their life by taking their medication.  For every month a person keeps their blood pressure levels under control, that person is potentially prolonging their life an extra day.  If a person starts treatment early in life, that extra day can really add up. (Reinberg, 12/20) Full story  

CNN. Batches of Motrin are being recalled by drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The pain relievers being recalled were mostly distributed to the United States, and are being pulled because of concern that the caplets aren't dissolving as quickly as intended when nearing their expiration date.  Although not a public safety concern, they will be pulled from retail shelves. (12/22) Full story  

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A new report by the Legislative Audit Bureau found that as Wisconsin's health programs for the poor have expanded, the state has increasingly hired more private workers and not fully taken advantage of ways to lessen costs.  On the upside, there wasn't widespread Medicaid fraud and out-of-state residents weren't moving to Wisconsin to take advantage of the state's health programs. (Stein, 12/20) Full story  

Kaiser Health News.  What will the big health care issues of 2012 involve?  The Supreme Court and Medicaid? The GOP health law repeal effort? Insurer changes?  Staff writers for Kaiser Health News share their insight in this link. (12/21)  Full story