New Fact Sheet on Medicare Part C & D Plan Enrollment Changes for Dual Eligibles
Read moreThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new rules limiting enrollment and disenrollment from Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D prescription drug plans for Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes. In the past, people with Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage (also known as dual eligibles) – and beneficiaries with the Part D Extra...
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CalABLE Provides People with Disabilities a Path to Economic Security
Read moreCalifornia’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (CalABLE) program is now open for enrollment! This is great news for hundreds of thousands of Californians with disabilities, as this program will empower them to save for their futures, without worrying that they’ll lose access to vital public programs. Specifically, CalABLE will allow qualified people with a...
DME Conviction & Fraud Settlement Reported
Read moreDurable medical equipment (DME) fraud continues to be one of the top kinds of fraud reported to our California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). We receive many cases where beneficiaries disclose personal information to callers offering them braces. In other cases, beneficiaries respond to TV commercials advertising braces to alleviate pain and later receive a low...
CHA Shares 2019 Priorities for Long Term Services and Supports
Read moreCalifornia Health Advocates (CHA) is an active member of the California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports (CCLTSS). Below is a letter CHA and the 36 other organizations of CCLTSS submitted to the California Legislature outlining their 2019 priorities for long term services and supports. December 28, 2018 Hon. Toni Atkins President...
CHA Supports S. 3679, the READI for Disasters Act
Read moreAs a member of the California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports (CCLTSS), CHA and 36 other advocacy organizations submitted this letter to our California Senators in support of S. 3679, the Readiness for Elders and Americans with Disabilities Inclusion (READI) for Disasters Act. This act would establish a National Commission on Disability...
CMS’ Medicare Provider Directories Have High Levels of Inaccuracies
Read moreWhile Medicare’s open enrollment completed last Friday, December 7, beneficiaries who enrolled into or switched Medicare Advantage plans in order to stay with their current providers may be in for a surprise come January 1, 2019. A third report this season has come out stating gross inaccuracies in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...
Service Coordinators’ Suspicions of Healthcare Fraud Lead to SMP Cases
Read moreWondering what some of the recent fraud trends are? One of our best gauges on what’s “hot” in fraud is by what our partners, volunteers, staff, service coordinators, providers, and community members at large report to us each month. Below are a few highlights from three different service coordinators’ fraud reports in the last...
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Ends Friday, Dec 7 ~ Now’s the Time to Make Your Coverage Choices for 2019
Read moreHave you made your health care coverage choices for 2019? If so, great! If not, now is the time, as Medicare’s open enrollment ends this Friday, December 7. Each year this open enrollment period, also known as the Annual Election Period (AEP) is from October 15 – December 7. It’s a time where you...