On July 15th, 2008, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) was approved by Congress and became law.
Section 119 of this legislation provides for beneficiary outreach and includes:
$ 7. 5 million in funding to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs);
credit:
$ 7. 5 million in funding to States for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Native American programs; $5 million for State Aging and Disability Resource Center programs (ADRCs); $5 million for AAAs/ADRCs under reprogrammed funds from the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Fund of 2007; and, $5 million for a resource center to help coordinate efforts to inform older Americans about benefits available under Federal and State programs through a web-based decision tool, providing a best practice clearinghouse and provide training and technical assistance to state and local programs.
Title VI Native American Programs can fill an important role in providing valuable support to eligible tribal members for the Low Income Subsidy program (LIS), Medicare Savings Program (MSP), Medicare Part D and in assisting beneficiaries in applying for benefits.
AoA seeks certification from Title VI Native American programs that they will use the funds to coordinate at least one outreach event to inform and assist eligible American Indian, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian elders about the benefits available to them through Medicare part D, the Low Income Subsidy or the Medicare Savings Program and counsel those who are eligible.
AoA will provide a grant of $1,000 to each Older Americans Act Title VI Native American program.
The purpose of these grants will be for the coordination of at least one community announcement and at least one outreach event to inform eligible Native American elders about the benefits available to them through Medicare Part D, the Low Income Subsidy or the Medicare Savings Program.
The example of $1000 per event is for illustrative purposes only.
There is data available from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and studies performed by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) that reflect these costs for planning and implementing a community event for Medicare Part D and LIS outreach activities.