Medicare to Boost Communications with Senior
Citizens with $36 Million to States
Funding is first installment of federal grant funds
provided to SHIPs by CMS for the grant year that began April 1; up 19%
from last year
April 5, 2009 - Grants of $35.8 million in funding
is being distributed to the 54 State Health Insurance Assistance
Programs (SHIPs) to help people with Medicare get more information about
their health care choices. This is almost 20 percent more than last
year's initial funding of $30 million.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced Friday it expects the SHIPs to use the 2009 funding to conduct
targeted community-based outreach to people with Medicare who may be
unable to access other sources of information.
SHIPs will also provide outreach and assistance to
current and newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers,
with a special emphasis on reaching people who will most likely be
eligible for Medicares low-income subsidy if they enroll in Medicare
prescription drug coverage.
The $35.8 million in funding is the first
installment of federal grant funds provided to SHIPs by CMS for the
grant year that began on April 1, and ends March 31, 2010.
An additional $1.5 million in performance-based
funding will be awarded in September 2009. SHIPs are state-based
programs that use community-based networks to provide Medicare
beneficiaries with local, personalized assistance on a wide variety of
Medicare and health insurance topics.
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs serve
an important role in providing information and support to people with
Medicare where they live, said CMS Acting Administrator Charlene
Frizzera.
These funds help ensure SHIPs continue their work
with state and local governments, community-based organizations and
others to meet the needs, beyond health care, of our Medicare
beneficiaries.
CMS says it will continue to support the quality of
services provided by SHIPs through training, technical assistance, the
SHIP Resource Center , and the online tools at
www.medicare.gov to help people with Medicare.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
April 5, 2009 - Grants of $35.8 million in funding
is being distributed to the 54 State Health Insurance Assistance
Programs (SHIPs) to help people with Medicare get more information about
their health care choices. This is almost 20 percent more than last
year's initial funding of $30 million.
