CMS announces $15 million funding increase for Medicare counseling programs

CMS officials on Friday announced that the agency this year will increase funding by $15 million to a total of $50 million to organizations that advise Medicare beneficiaries on prescription drug and health plan choices, CQ HealthBeat reports.

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs -- informally known as SHIPs, which fund community-based organizations that aid seniors in reviewing Medicare options and answering questions -- will use additional funds to help Medicare beneficiaries who are unable to use the Internet to get information and answers to questions.

Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems in a press release said, "This year's funding should further the SHIPs' efforts to reach those people who are most likely eligible for extra help paying the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage, and assist them in applying for extra help."

Paul Precht, policy director of the Medicare Rights Center, said, "It's good they're allocating it, but there is always more money needed." He added that a bill (S 3101) introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) would add another $20 million for counseling and related services to existing funding levels. Precht said, "People shouldn't think that because they're allocating now that the things S 3101 does aren't necessary," adding that additional funding "is even more crucial with all the problems with deceptive marketing."

Other CMS Announcements

Agency officials also announced efforts to better inform hospice patients about their rights. On June 5, CMS officials announced a regulation that specifies that hospice patients have the right to choose care to minimize their suffering rather than continue to try to cure their diseases. In addition, hospice patients have the right to help design their treatment plans, to refuse treatment and to select their own physicians.

CMS officials also announced that the agency will update public information on cancer drugs covered by Medicare. CMS is recognizing a new reference tool while eliminating another to help beneficiaries determine which drugs are covered for chemotherapy under Medicare Part B. The agency will recognize the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Drugs and Biologics Compendium and eliminate the out-of-date American Medical Association Drug Evaluations compendium, according to CQ HealthBeat. Weems said, "We use these compendia to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can be assured that the Medicare (claims payers) and their physicians have the most up-to-date drug information and the best available treatment options" (CQ HealthBeat, 6/9).