The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released $6.3 million in order to boost efforts by State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs).
The funding is part of the $49.6 million in grants distributed to states for their SHIP operations, which provide Medicare beneficiaries with local, personalized assistance on Medicare and health insurance topics.
The $6.3 million includes $4.8 million in supplemental funding to the basic grant appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 2009 and $1.5 million for performance-based awards to SHIPs, combined with $7.5 million in funding made available to SHIPs under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008.
“We know beneficiaries want personalized assistance as they make decisions about their healthcare options,” said Jonathan Blum, acting director of the Center for Drug and Health Plan Choices and director of the Center for Medicare Management. “In addition to 1-800-MEDICARE operations and its customer service representatives, SHIPs are one of the most important resources available to Medicare beneficiaries.”
The funding will also aid SHIPs in reaching out to beneficiaries with limited incomes who may be eligible for the “extra help” subsidy for Medicare prescription drug coverage. SHIPs may use the money to recruit and train new volunteers to provide SHIP counseling.
“In addition to answering beneficiaries’ questions about Medicare, this funding should further the SHIPs’ efforts to reach those people who are most likely eligible for extra help paying the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage, and assist them in applying for extra help,” said Charlene Frizzera, acting CMS administrator. “These funds will give SHIPs additional resources for the upcoming open enrollment period.”
Performance awards are provided to SHIPs that demonstrate achievement in providing services to Medicare beneficiaries. Eligibility for a performance award is based on timely submission of data for all required reporting periods into the SHIP National Performance Reporting (NPR) system for the period July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. SHIPs are also evaluated based on performance measures data.