CHESTER COUNTY INDEPENDENT • Thursday, May 5, 2011 Page 9-B
SHIP awarded grant by Centers for Medicare, Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the first installment of funding to the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to help Medicare beneficiaries in Tennessee and those who care for them, by providing information and counseling about their health care choices. These grants are available to the 54 SHIP organizations in the United States and its territories for the funding year that runs from April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012. TN SHIP will receive $1,031,827, part of the nearly $46.5 million being
distributed to SHIPs as part of the total $50 million that is available to SHIPs in 2011 for direct grants and support contracts. Performance awards will be distributed to SHIPs in September. “With these funds, SHIPs will provide counseling to beneficiaries encouraging them to use the new annual wellness visit and other preventive services that the Affordable Care Act provides at no cost to beneficiaries,” said CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D. “SHIP educational services also help beneficiaries to identify and report suspected Medicare fraud, enhancing
the anti-fraud tools provided by the Affordable Care Act.” SHIPs are expected to increase their efforts to provide outreach and assistance to current and newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers, reach people who are most likely eligible for Medicare’s lowincome subsidy and may be able to benefit from lower prescription drug costs, beneficiaries with disabilities, and diverse racial and ethnic groups, particularly those individuals with limited English proficiency. Teresa Niño, director of CMS’ Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary
Services said, “We all know that early detection and preventive services are an investment in our health. Now, with the Affordable Care Act, we’re supporting that knowledge by making healthcare accessible to those who are often less likely to receive preventive care. SHIPs and other CMS partners with grassroots connections will use creative methods to inform Medicare beneficiaries, their families and
trusted representatives about these services.” For information, call 1800-633-4227.