Resources for Alaska's Medicare
Counselors
October 2008 Medicare Training
Materials from 2008 annual training
The two programs we counsel Alaskans on are SHIP and SMP.
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) funds the SHIP project to educate and counsel Alaskans about Medicare so that people make optimal choices in utilizing Medicare health insurance and have access to local counseling. The two staff and 54 volunteer counselors provide local, objective answers to questions asked by beneficiaries, family members and providers. We maintain a free helpline and local Anchorage phone and are located on the 3rd floor of the Frontier Building.
All counselors are encouraged to track all Medicare-related counseling/conversations using the "Client Contact Form." Then you go right onto www.shiptalk.org and in 30 seconds you can enter the data directly online to record the client contact. Our funders track our work and appreciate your efforts to stay on top of what you are doing to help recipients with their Medicare questions and puzzles. Thank you!
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
The U. S. Administration on Aging (AOA) funds the SMP project which educates and encourages Medicare beneficiaries and others to report suspected Medicare error, fraud, waste and abuse.
This is the SMP resource center website for volunteers to access
Information on Miller Trusts in Alaska
Go to an overview of the Medicare Prescription drug benefits >
Contact the Alaska SHIP Help Line at (907) 269-3680 or 1-800-478-6065 (toll-free in Alaska only). You can leave a brief message 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Recorded calls will be answered in the order they are received Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; or you can call a trained Medicare Volunteer Counselor in your local community or one near your community. .
You can also write for more information to the Alaska Medicare/Senior Information Office, 3601 C Street, Suite 310, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503-5984.
List of all Alaska's MEDICARE Counselors
Outreach and Training Tools
- Fort Richardson Retiree Appreciation – Outreach SHIP/SMP by Michelle Mayott
- Agenda for Medicare 101 seminar
- Questions to ask
Health Fair and Social Security Resources:
- Alaska Health Fair Schedule and Application
- Social Security Travel Schedule
- Community Outreach Schedule (Social Security)
Guide to LIS Mailing From CMS and Social Security 2008
Part D 2008 Enrollment Tools:
- Part D Assistance Referral Screening Tool
- Extra Help Sheet
- Part D Decision Tree
- Client Agreement and Authorization Form
- Part D Finder Tool to use with clients
- 5 Steps to Enroll Yourself in Medicare Part D 2009
- 2009 Medicare Prescription Drug Fast Facts
- Get Information on the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Teleconference Schedule:
Alaska Medicare Volunteer Counselors
"meet me" calls: dial 1-800-315-6338, use code SHIP#November 19 Andrew Tartella, lead speaker on Part D December 17 Part D, Medicare appeals
- Tips for Teleconferences (12kb)
Teleconference Minutes
Links for Low Income Subsidy "Extra Help":
2008 LIS Outreach Toolkit
The new LIS Outreach Toolkit is located at www.cms.hhs.gov/Partnerships/Toolkits/. This toolkit includes important resources and information about the outreach effort, including a new LIS drop-in article that can be used in local publications or print outlets to encourage people with Medicare to apply for Extra Help. This article can also be found on the Portal at https://portal.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt
CMS’ campaign will be conducted from May to July and will coincide with SSA’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day outreach campaign. Please join CMS in our efforts to reach out to people with Medicare and their family members or caregivers to promote the availability of this extra help and increase the number of LIS applications submitted to SSA for processing.
Additional materials, including talking points, internal Q&As and more are available on the Portal at https://portal.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt
Links for Fraud Prevention:
- Download SMP Fraud brochure- English Version (372kb)
- Download SMP Fraud brochure- Korean Version (808kb)
- Download SMP Fraud brochure- Russian Version (813kb)
Outreach - Alaskan Style SHIP/SMP Outreach Photos and Comments:
Judith Bendersky in the Akutan doing outreach at a Health Fair at the school
Judith and Jeanne Larson discussing Medicare issues with Senator Lisa Murkowski
Fraternity Leaders preparing to post “Extra Help” flyers around Anchorage
Alice Bioff, Zoe Ivanoff and Tisha Kingeekuk from Norton Sound sharing outreach experiences
CMS Updates:
Publications Volunteers Can Use:
2008 Choosing a Medigap Policy www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02110.pdf
Enrolling in Medicare http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11036.pdf
State of Alaska Medigap Rate Guide www.commerce.state.ak.us/insurance/pub/
2007_Medicare_Rate_Guide.pdf- Who Pays First (about coordination of benefits, primary, secondary)
www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02179.pdf
State & Federal Agencies and Miscellaneous Information:
- Social Security Online (This is where you sign up to receive Medicare)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Alaska Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
- Medical-Bill Errors Increasingly Common (Associated Press Story from 10/07. 26kb)
Alaska Medicare/Senior Information Office
3601 C Street, Suite 310
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5984
Phone: (907) 269-3680
1-800-478-6065 (statewide)
Fax: (907) 269-4973