2007 Conference Calls
November 28, 2007: Sharing Ideas: Meeting the Demands of the 2007 AEP
With the 2007 Annual Enrollment Period already two weeks underway, it is time to gather the SHIP Community together to discuss how counselors and beneficiaries are faring. For much of the summer and early fall, SHIPs were preparing for a variety of scenarios. Some SHIPs predicted high call volume, while others anticipated a repeat of the 2006 AEP, when demand for assistance was relatively low. Join others from the SHIP network to compare notes and exchange ideas for counseling through the 2007 Annual Enrollment Period.
October 17, 2007: SHIP to SHIP: The Evolution of Volunteer Roles
This month's call will focus on the current and future roles of volunteers in SHIPs. Changes to the Medicare program have encouraged the creative use of volunteers. From counseling to education, volunteers are a critical component of many SHIP programs. With less than a month before the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), SHIPs' plans for engaging and training volunteers are well underway. Please join this call prepared to share your ideas about volunteer roles and learn more about strategies other SHIP programs are using as we gear up for the busiest months of the year.
September 19, 2007: Making the 5% Requirement Work in Your SHIP
During the call we will provide some background on the issues behind the requirement as well as specific instructions for reporting the 5% to CMS. As you know mid-term narrative reports must be submitted to CMS to describe each SHIP's progress in this area; these reports are due September 30, 2007. Since we have nearly reached the midpoint of the grant year, it is a good time to hear how things are going in your SHIPs-- triumphs and challenges, both expected and unforeseen. We intend for this interactive call to include plenty of time to discuss what is happening in your state, good ideas that are working for you, and your thoughts about tools and resources that HAP can develop to help your program achieve these goals. Please join the rest of the SHIP community on this call prepared to share stories and ask questions.
August 15, 2007: An Update on SHIP Funding
On August 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act, HR. 3162. If enacted, the law would expand health insurance coverage to all children whose families cannot afford health insurance. The bill also contains a number of Medicare provisions, including mandating that in 2009 CMS fund SHIP in the amount of $55 million and that for all subsequent years SHIP funding be increased by at least $10 million. If enacted, this provision would supersede CMS' current discretionary funding of SHIP. On August 2, the Senate passed its version of the CHAMP bill, which unfortunately does not include any Medicare provisions, including those related to SHIP funding.
July 18, 2007: A Conversation About the Notice of a New System of Records for SHIP Reporting
On July 2, 2007, CMS published a Notice of a New System of Records entitled SHIP-NPR in the Federal Register. CMS is accepting comments on this notice through August 4th. During our conference call, HAP discussed the notice and its potential impact on SHIP programs. The proposed new system of records will collect beneficiary name, counseling zip code, beneficiary zip code, telephone number, date of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, and date of contact, among other elements. CMS also lists potential "routine use" disclosures where individually identifiable information could be released without a beneficiary's consent. HAP has received many questions regarding how this proposal affects current reporting for SHIPs with proprietary data systems, what the parameters are for the proposed routine use disclosures, impacts of these disclosures on statements of "confidential" counseling, and other privacy concerns.
May 16, 2007: Long-Term Care Insurance: Public-Private Partnership
As a direct result of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 dozens of states across the nation are currently ahead of the curve in the financing of long-term care debate by implementing state plan amendments to design Long-Term Care Partnership programs in response to the growing need. With 77 million baby boomers aging in to Medicare every day, a shortage of paid home care workers, rising health care costs and Medicaid serving as the largest payer of long-term care - we have a great deal of work to do as a nation. States are joining this awareness campaign entitled, "Own Your Future" by their own design, and four Partnership states have been operational for the past decade. This month's call will facilitate a discussion around what the public-private long-term care partnership is, and the potential impact these newly forming partnerships will have on SHIP counselors in the near future nationwide. We will be joined by some of the states who currently have partnership programs and hear from them about their experiences.
April 18, 2007: Taking Your Numbers to the Next Level
The call delved into the role of program development, a subject of importance to many SHIPs. This call begins a discussion of program evaluation. SHIPs already track many statistics for their programs-- numbers of counselors and their hours, trainings, presentations, client contacts, and more. The collection and reporting of this information is the first step of evaluation. This interactive conversation will focus on what else SHIPs can do with the data they collect. Further, we will discuss reasons for evaluation as well as the common myths surrounding it. HAP believes that evaluation is empowering. This process can lead to greater understanding, defining, and improving a SHIP program.
March 21, 2007: Spring Forward: OEP Fallback Options
As the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for 2007 comes to an end, it is important to understand the rules that govern the different enrollment opportunities still available to beneficiaries-- including the Limited Open Enrollment Period (L-OEP), Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs), and retroactive disenrollment procedures. We will discuss what impact the new L-OEP may have on beneficiaries, including advocacy around the L-OEP and its newly formed accompanying SEP. As always we welcome your comments and questions during the call.
February 21, 2007: SEPs, The Next Steps
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) enable Medicare beneficiaries to make Part D plan enrollment changes in several special situations. It is critical for counselors to have a clear understanding of who qualifies for a SEP and when to act in order to assist beneficiaries in accessing their medications. While SEPs allow beneficiaries to switch to Part D plans that may suit their needs better, determining SEP eligibility can be confusing. As the Open Enrollment Period progresses, it becomes more important to review how SEPs can be used and under what specific circumstances.
January 17, 2007: At the Pharmacy Counter- Helping Beneficiaries Get Their Prescriptions
Throughout the 2006 Annual Enrollment Period, SHIPs reported an unexpectedly low number of requests from beneficiaries for enrollment assistance. As the second plan year commences and we move beyond enrollment, SHIPs are now focusing on accessing prescriptions at the pharmacy. As many of you are aware, problems are occurring at the pharmacy that are preventing beneficiaries from having successful transactions at the pharmacy counter. During this call we will discuss the importance of understanding all of the moving parts at the point of sale: transition, exceptions, and appeals. There will be ample time to share your success stories with the group so everyone can learn to navigate better the 2007 Part D plan year.
