Medicare Training and Counseling
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Best Practices
SHIP, Medicare, and GWAAR
GWAAR's Medicare Training and Counseling program provides some direct counseling services to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers as part of the Wisconsin State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). More significantly, through resources identified by its Medicare Trainer and Counselor as well as members of the Older Americans Act teams, GWAAR hopes to help both new and experienced professionals in the aging network to access sources of information and training to help older adults with Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance concerns.
Wisconsin SHIP Resources
Handout on the Wisconsin SHIP
GWAAR has five roles related to the Wisconsin SHIP:
1) We serve as the fiscal agent for contracts related to various sources of funding that support health insurance outreach and assistance, especially services provided by Elderly Benefit Specialists. Awards may include allocations from the basic SHIP funds from AoA, special projects such as the low-income outreach efforts under MIPPA, and funding to benefit specialist programs coming from the state via revenue to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. For fiscal questions, please contact SHIP Director, Rita Cairns, or GWAAR Financial Director, Deb Mould.
Maximizing MIPPA Success new page
2) Since June 2009 Wisconsin SHIP, AAA, and ADRC staff (especially Elderly Benefit Specialists) have helped over 7600 Wisconsin beneficiaries on Medicare to apply for programs that are estimated to save them in excess of $21 million. Peg Nugent is the coordinator for all activites in the state related to two MIPPA grants for outreach and enrollment in Part D, Extra Help for Part D costs, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicare's Preventive Services. Credit for our success belongs to those advocates and outreach specialists working tirelessly at the local level. (MIPPA refers to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act in which the first grant was created.)
Medicare Training new page
3) The Medicare Trainer and Counselor at GWAAR, currently Peg Nugent, Ph.D., also collaborates with the Medigap Helpline, CWAG Prescription Drug Helpline, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Region V staff, and various Elderly Benefit Specialists and Disability Benefit Specialists to provide counties and tribes with information, traning, and technical assistance around Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance for older persons. Peg conducts or assists with a variety of regional trainings on Medicare Drug Coverage, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Medicare for minority populations. Select one of the following links for resources to guide professionals who work with Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare Training Resources new page
Medicare in 2011 new page
Hispanic Outreach (coming soon)
Hmong Outreach (coming soon)
SHIP Volunteers new page
4) Best Practices and Performance Improvement—Whether through special projects or in consulting with professionals throughout the state or in CMS, GWAAR seeks to identify and share those practices that work best to reach and serve the health insurance needs of older adults and others in Medicare. The ADRC of Western Wisconsin has graciously developed two documents to enhance consistency in Part D consultations offered through a multi-county ADRC with independent Aging Units remaining. A form for gathering information to screen for drug plans and a standard guideline for consultations to review plans have been adapted for use by the SHIP Volunteer Project and are available for your modification.
5) In some instances, when county aging offices are unwilling to accept funds that have been allocated to support their health insurance outreach and assistance activities, GWAAR may assist by identifying ways to provide these services including offering training and guidance to short term or specially contracted staff and coordinating with the local Elderly and Disability Benefit Specialists.
For more information, contact Peg Nugent, GWAAR Medicare Trainer and Counselor.