Archive of HAP's eNewsletters
2008

December 2008

• Check Your Skills: Holiday Edition
• Get the Inside Scoop on Health Reform
• No HAP Conference Call in December
• Comments Requested: Interim Final Rule on Agent Compensation
• Awaiting 2009 LIS Income Standards
• CMS Tip Sheet Explains Features of the Plan Finder
• Two New CMS Resources for Caregivers
• How is the U.S. Economy Affecting Older Americans?
• What is the Affect of the Economic Crisis on Volunteering?
• New Report Highlights MIPPA Provisions to Reduce Health Disparities
• MRC Coalition Fights to Eliminate Two-Year Waiting Period
• NSCLC Releases Reassignment Report

November 2008

• 2009 Annual Enrollment Period Toolkit
• Correction: NAIC Adopts New Model Medigap Standards
• MIPPA: Even More Benefits for Beneficiaries
• CMS Clarifies MIPPA Provision for Plans
• Next Batch of CMS Mailings
• November is American Diabetes Month
• NCOA to Establish Benefit Enrollment Centers
• New Report Highlights Help for the Most Vulnerable
• Kaiser Foundation’s Cool Part D Tracking Tool
• Increase Your Volunteer Management Expertise

October 2008

• Listen Online: 2009 Plan Finder and Plan Landscapes
• Want to help your clients lower their drug costs?
• Recruiting a New Generation of SHIP Volunteers
• This AEP, the Message is... “Review and Compare!”
• Orange Letters in the Mail from CMS
• Announcing… 2009 Medigap Annual Deductible
• Landscape of Plans Shows Big Differences for 2009
• NAIC Adopts New Model Medigap Standards
• FREE Online Volunteer Management Training

September 2008

• Welcome Seemin Pasha
• Take Part in Our Makeover
• What to Expect from the New Medicare Law
• New and Improved Part D Counseling Tool
• An Opportunity to Celebrate: National Senior Center Month
• Volunteer Recruitment Crunch Time
• HAP’s Online Tool Now Tracks All That You Do
• Prepare Your SHIP for the Redetermination Process
• Grey Letters from CMS in the Mail
• Part D Plans’ Premiums for 2009 Better than Expected
• Volunteers Burdened by High Gas Prices May Soon Have Help
• Part D Marketing Still Problematic, Tool Helps Beneficiaries Be Aware
• Who Is Volunteering in Your Community?
• New Medicare Law May Increase LIS Enrollment Rates

August 2008

• Take Part in Our Makeover
• More LTC Training Tools Now Available
• Updated Lists of Plan SHIP Numbers Now Available
• So Many SEPs to Remember
• New Guidance Now in Effect
• New and Improved Best Available Evidence Policy
• Boomers Boost Volunteer Programs

July 2008

• Welcome Stacey and Becky!
• New LTC Center and Conference Call
• SHIP Directors Enjoy the Opportunity to Shape CMS Policy
• HAP’s Conference Call Will Be on Vacation in August
• Sharing Successful LIS Outreach Strategies
• New CMS Rule Targets Abuse of Billing Privileges
• Duals: On Their Way to Faster Identification
• Beneficiaries, Be Sure to Check Your Mailbox
• Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act Becomes Law
• CMS Agrees to Ease Access to Part D Drugs for Duals

June 2008

• Join HAP’s SHIP-to-SHIP Call on LIS
• We’re Hiring - Director of Outreach and Communications
• If You Missed It - View HAP’s SHIP Conference Presentations Online
• New HAP Tools on MSAs
• Putting a Face to a Name
• What You Need to Know about DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
• CMS to Distribute the Second of Three Installments in SHIP Funding
• Be on Lookout for LIS Media Ads in Your Community!
• Revised ABNs Will Be Used Soon
• Oregon SHIP Director Testifies at Senate Aging Hearing
• CMS Removes 1,500 Drugs from 2007 Formulary
• DHHS Recommends Two LTC Specific Changes to CMS
• Report Highlights LIS and Part D Partnership Opportunities

May 2008

• Listen to HAP Conference Calls at Your Convenience

• Visit HAP’s New Medigap Resource Center

• HAP’s FAQ Center Features Concise Answers to Complicated Questions

• Updated Materials on Disenrollment

• Comment on Proposed Regulations Intended to Protect Beneficiaries

• Fewer LIS Reassignments Expected Due to CMS Rule Changes

• E-Prescribing: The Future is Near

• Clarification to EOB Notice on Benefit or Formulary Changes

• Updated Guidance on Creditable Drug Coverage Determinations

• New CMS Policy Extends Service Areas for Retiree Groups

• Five SHIPs Highlighted for Successful Low-Income Outreach

• SHIP Counselors' Experiences Reinforce the Value of Personal Assistance

• Limited Knowledge of Part D Cost-Sharing Tied to Financial Hardship

• New Information Clarifying Low-Income Beneficiary Protections

• Kaiser Examines Trends in Medicare Drug Program

• Updated Hospital Compare Website Now Offers Patient Satisfaction Data

April 2008

• HAP Welcomes Tyrone Norris

• Best of Luck to Deepti Sethi

• SHIPTools Is Expanding

• New Evaluation Form for HAP’s Medicare Advantage Tools

• HAP Is Growing!

• HAP at the SHIP Directors Conference

• Valuable Plan Performance Information Available
• 2009 Plan Call Letter Released
• Happy National Volunteer Month!
• HAP Submits Comments on the 2009 Medicare and You Handbook
• Group Practices Reportedly Limit Number of Medicare Patients  
• MedPAC Chair Concerned about Overpayments to Inefficient MA Plans

March 2008

• Thanks: HAP's Collaborative State Projects
• New Tool: HAP's MA Counseling Guide
• Beneficiaries Receiving Termination Letters Have Special Enrollment Period
• CMS Continues Initiative to Improve Poorest Performing Nursing Homes
• Beneficiaries and Physicians Can Request Prior Determinations
• Seniors Must File Tax Return to Receive Economic Stimulus Check
• Generic Form of Fosamax Now Approved
• Congress to Curb MA Plan Marketing and Sales Abuses
• Congress Busy with Medicare Advantage Hearings
• Commonwealth Fund Special Needs Plans Resources

February 2008

• Apply Now: HAP's Collaborative State Projects
• New Tool: HAP’s PFFS Counseling Guide
• CMS Releases Part D and Low Income Subsidy Data by State
• CMS Releases New Model Explanation of Benefits for Part D Plan Usage
• CMS Announces Moratorium on New Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
• HAP’s Resources Reflect 2008 LIS Income and Resource Limits
• Part D Costs Less Than Expected
• HAP’s Comments Focus on CMS Beneficiary Protections and SHIP Counseling
• Senate Finance Committee Holds Two Hearings on Medicare Advantage
• Kaiser’s 2008 Medicare Part D Resources

January 2008

• UPCOMING PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY: 2008-2009 Collaborative State Projects
• HAP Tool: Dual Eligibles
• New HAP Resource Center: SHIP Funding
• SAVE THE DATE: Health Action 2008, January 24-26
• REMINDER: 1-800-Medicare Will Be Closed December 25
• Confirm Enrollments Online
• CMS Describes Social Security Reductions for MA Part B Premiums
• 2008 LIS Resource Limits
• PFFS Oversight
• CMS Lists Poorest Performing Nursing Homes Along with Nursing Home Selection Tools
• Quick Reference Describes Sources of Assistance
• Shrinking Drug Formularies
• MedPAC Recommends an Increase in SHIP Funding Patient Advocates Support Legislation Increasing Off-label Drug Coverage
• New Kaiser Resources on Part D Available