|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Medicare Adds $31.7 Million to Funds for State
Programs to Help Spread the Word on Next Year’s Drug Program
SHIPs, CMS Build Stronger Commitment to Doing Better
Job
April 13, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Monday a 50 percent increase in
funding for the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) for
stronger efforts to inform Medicare beneficiaries about the prescription
drug coverage that begins in 2006.
|
Related Stories |
|
|
Switch to Medicare Drug Coverage
Poses Dire Risk for Nursing Home Residents, Experts Warn
Written By:
ElderLawAnswers.com
April
13, 2005 - Thousands of nursing home residents are in grave danger of
losing coverage for life-sustaining drugs when the new Medicare drug law
takes effect on January 1, experts familiar with medication practices in
long-term care settings are warning. Any sudden loss of coverage will
likely result in illnesses or premature deaths, the experts say.
Read more...
MORE...
Medicaid - Cost and complexity tax
reform efforts
... Who are "dual eligibles" and
why are states so upset about them? In any debate about
Medicaid, state officials are certain to use the term "dual ...
Medicare Rights Center Launches
Campaign for Change in New Drug ...
... People dually eligible for
Medicare and Medicaid (“dual eligibles”) are: * Sicker. More
than 50 percent of dual eligibles are limited in activities of
...
Medicare Looms As Budget, Logistical
Issue for States
... to grant a phase-in period
for the dual eligibles during which old Medicaid ... government
pick up the prescription drug tab for the “dual eligibles. ...
Medicare Says Long-Term Care Residents
Will Get Drug Assistance
... All full-benefit dual
eligibles who do not elect a plan by January 1, 2006 will be
automatically enrolled in a Part D plan, so there will be no ...
Proposed Regulations To Implement The
New Medicare Law
... About 3 million Medicare
beneficiaries who are not full-benefit dual eligibles, ...
Medicare drug coverage for dual eligibles: Starting in 2006, ...
Medicare Provides the Details on How
New Drug Program Will Work
... About 3 million Medicare
beneficiaries who are not full benefit dual eligibles, but whose
incomes are less than 135 percent of the federal poverty level
... |
|
Many SHIPs have expressed concern about “dual
eligibles” – persons eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid – not
getting the drug coverage they need as this responsibility shifts from
Medicaid to Medicare in the new program. This extra funding is seen by
many as a way of answering this criticism of the change.
“SHIPs are a key partner in Medicare’s Education
and Outreach effort to insure that everyone with Medicare knows they are
eligible for prescription drug coverage, that they will have a choice of
at least two plans, and that there will be extra assistance for those in
need,” said the announcement.
The CMS statement said, “This significant increase
in funding, a total of $31.7 million, is a sign of confidence in the 12
year partnership between CMS and the SHIP network. It is also clear
evidence of CMS’ strong belief and commitment to one-on-one counseling
and assistance to people with Medicare and their families, especially as
they need to learn and make decisions about the new Medicare
prescription drug coverage that becomes available next year.”
The announcement of the increased funding came at
the first ever forum of all the 54 SHIP State Directors and the entire
network of over 1,200 local SHIP program coordinators and volunteers.
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said, “We have a
tremendous challenge before us in educating the 41 million Medicare
beneficiaries. You and the 10,000 counselors you mobilize in the SHIP
network are key partners. Together we must insure that America ’s
Medicare beneficiaries and people with disabilities are fully informed
of the new prescription drug coverage and are able to make confident
decisions on what is best for them. This mission requires your best
efforts”
The significant increase in funding brings
increased performance requirements for all the SHIPs across the U.S. and
the territories. It also brings increased commitment from CMS to
continually educate the SHIP network and provide accessible and on-going
training to insure that the network is fully capable of utilizing all of
CMS online and other support tools..
“The SHIPs’ role in helping seniors and people with
disabilities is crucial, not only for the new prescription drug benefit
but also helping people get the best care for their own needs in our
increasingly sophisticated health care system, “ said CMS Administrator
Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. “The SHIPs are the key foot soldiers in
providing one-on-one assistance for Medicare beneficiaries to help them
get the best health care.”
While general enrollment for the new Medicare drug
coverage begins on November 15 of this year, education and awareness
counseling is important right now. The community-based SHIPs will help
drive increased awareness through the coming months to enable people
with Medicare to make informed decisions about their health care and
prescription drug coverage needs. CMS expects the network to provide
personalized counseling to as many as 5 million beneficiaries as part of
their effort.
In his discussion with the SHIP directors,
Secretary Leavitt said, "While you, the SHIPs, are key in this effort,
you will not be alone. This is a government wide effort, HHS (including
CMS and the Administration on Aging), the Social Security Administration
and other federal agencies, and the entire national and local aging
network will be devoted to insuring that all people with Medicare are
aware of the new prescription drug coverage and able to make a confident
decision on what is best for them when they can begin enrolling on
November 15.
Find Your SHIP
Every state has a "State Health Insurance Assistance Program" (SHIP).
These programs help Medicare beneficiaries and their families with their
health insurance choices and with problems that might arise. Here is the
Internet's most complete list of SHIP
Web Sites
and Links and a list of
Telephone Numbers for contacting SHIPs. It is provided by the
New York
State Office for the Aging.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
