More money headed to groups that provide Medicare information

Washington -- The federal government is making nearly $36 million in funding available to states in an effort to improve Medicare coordination and outreach among community-based networks.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced April 3 that the money is being distributed to the 54 State Health Insurance Assistance Programs. These SHIPs assist beneficiaries in obtaining more information about Medicare options.

The money is the first installment of federal grant funds provided to SHIPs for the grant year beginning April 1, 2009, and ending March 31, 2010. An additional $1.5 million in performance-based funding will be awarded in September 2009.

The resources are designed to bolster community outreach that can assist physicians in providing beneficiaries the most up-to-date Medicare information available and steering them toward reliable sources.

The funding will help state programs that "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."

The agency said it expects SHIPs to use the 2009 funding to carry out targeted community-based outreach to seniors who may be unable to access other sources of counseling information. They also will provide assistance to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers, with an emphasis on reaching people who will most likely be eligible for Medicare's low-income prescription drug subsidy, CMS said.

SHIPs have counselors in every state and several territories. A listing of each office and its contact information is available online (link).