Comments for CHA Blog http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:22:47 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Comment on CMS Announces New Administration on Community Living by Tom Poblano http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2012/04/cms-announces-acl/comment-page-1/#comment-8349 Tom Poblano Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:22:47 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1435#comment-8349 I sure hope this works out! It would be great for all Seniors and those with Disabilites. I sure hope this works out! It would be great for all Seniors and those with Disabilites.

]]> Comment on CMS Provides Medication Management & Caregiver Resources on Youtube by Jennifer Rutberg http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2012/04/cms-medication-management-caregiver-youtube-videos/comment-page-1/#comment-8336 Jennifer Rutberg Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:10:47 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1421#comment-8336 Thank you so much for getting the word out about the videos - we had a wonderful experience making them with CMS! Since CMS has 200+ wonderful videos, we have embedded the videos for convenience on a page of the Next Step in Care website (http://bit.ly/ILJc8I). -Jennifer Rutberg Senior Program Manager, Families and Health Care Project United Hospital Fund Thank you so much for getting the word out about the videos – we had a wonderful experience making them with CMS! Since CMS has 200+ wonderful videos, we have embedded the videos for convenience on a page of the Next Step in Care website (http://bit.ly/ILJc8I).

-Jennifer Rutberg
Senior Program Manager, Families and Health Care Project
United Hospital Fund

]]> Comment on OIG Features Fraud Alerts via Podcasts ~ Learn About Diabetes Phone Scams by Karen Fletcher http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2012/04/oig-podcasts/comment-page-1/#comment-8312 Karen Fletcher Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:04:27 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1412#comment-8312 Hi Melinda, Thank you for passing on this information. I have forwarded it on to our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project and it's reporting like this that helps put a stop to this problem. So, thank you! :) And good work on notifying your grandma that this was a scam. Warm regards, Karen Hi Melinda,
Thank you for passing on this information. I have forwarded it on to our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project and it’s reporting like this that helps put a stop to this problem. So, thank you! :) And good work on notifying your grandma that this was a scam.

Warm regards,
Karen

]]> Comment on Consumers Beware of Medicare Advantage Marketing Fraud by Karen Fletcher http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2011/10/consumer-alert-on-agent-fraud/comment-page-1/#comment-8311 Karen Fletcher Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:52:42 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1203#comment-8311 Hi Mary, Thank you for writing and my apologies on this delayed response. I suggest you contact your local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and they can help you resolve these bills so you can have your needed surgery. HICAP provides free and unbiased counseling and advocacy on Medicare and related health care concerns so this fits right in. Here's a link to a list of all the HICAPs thorughout California. Click on the County you're in to get the local HICAP contact info: http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/HICAP/index.html Thank you, and all the very best in getting this resolved. Warm regards, Karen Hi Mary,
Thank you for writing and my apologies on this delayed response. I suggest you contact your local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and they can help you resolve these bills so you can have your needed surgery. HICAP provides free and unbiased counseling and advocacy on Medicare and related health care concerns so this fits right in.

Here’s a link to a list of all the HICAPs thorughout California. Click on the County you’re in to get the local HICAP contact info:
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/HICAP/index.html

Thank you, and all the very best in getting this resolved.

Warm regards,
Karen

]]> Comment on Medicare’s Open Enrollment Ends Dec 7th by Karen Fletcher http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2011/12/open-enrollment-ends-dec-7th/comment-page-1/#comment-8310 Karen Fletcher Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:46:35 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1235#comment-8310 Good question! And no. That "open enrollment period" refers to the Annual Election Period (AEP) that beneficiaries have every fall when they can join, disenroll from or switch Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans. This period is from Oct 15 - Dec 7 each year and is different from your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Here's some info on the AEP: http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/basics/open-enrollment.html (whicn Medicare refers to as Fall Open Enrollment). And here's some info on the various enrollment periods (this is a pdf file): http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/facts/A-008-CHAFactSheet.pdf Thanks for writing! Best, Karen Good question! And no. That “open enrollment period” refers to the Annual Election Period (AEP) that beneficiaries have every fall when they can join, disenroll from or switch Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans. This period is from Oct 15 – Dec 7 each year and is different from your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Here’s some info on the AEP: http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/basics/open-enrollment.html (whicn Medicare refers to as Fall Open Enrollment). And here’s some info on the various enrollment periods (this is a pdf file): http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/facts/A-008-CHAFactSheet.pdf

Thanks for writing!
Best,
Karen

]]> Comment on Watch Out for the American Opportunity Act Scam by Karen Fletcher http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2011/08/american-opportunity-act-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-8309 Karen Fletcher Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:37:59 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1139#comment-8309 Hi Chuck, I'm just going through the messages that have come through our blog and saw your question. I suggest you call the Office of Inspector General fraud report line at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. If you have Medicare, call our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helpline at 1-855-613-7080. Thanks Chuck! Warm regards, Karen Hi Chuck,
I’m just going through the messages that have come through our blog and saw your question. I suggest you call the Office of Inspector General fraud report line at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. If you have Medicare, call our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helpline at 1-855-613-7080.

Thanks Chuck!
Warm regards,
Karen

]]> Comment on OIG Features Fraud Alerts via Podcasts ~ Learn About Diabetes Phone Scams by Melinda Ross http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2012/04/oig-podcasts/comment-page-1/#comment-8306 Melinda Ross Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:54:33 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1412#comment-8306 Glad you brought this up. I did read about this scam a lot and I didn't think it'd become this prevalent. Even my own grandma got a call like that before. She's got diabetes but with constant and proper health care, she's always in the pink of health. Well, the phone call was from James who said he was a Medicare representative, and he called up to let grandma know that the doctor ordered some sugar-monitoring device for her and he'd be sending it to her after she's verified her identity and provided her personal information. Well, I was there and she told me what the caller wanted. I explained it to her it was a scam and she hung up. We looked up the phone number and sure enough, it came up at http://www.callercenter.com/360-529-6145.html. Glad you brought this up. I did read about this scam a lot and I didn’t think it’d become this prevalent.

Even my own grandma got a call like that before. She’s got diabetes but with constant and proper health care, she’s always in the pink of health. Well, the phone call was from James who said he was a Medicare representative, and he called up to let grandma know that the doctor ordered some sugar-monitoring device for her and he’d be sending it to her after she’s verified her identity and provided her personal information. Well, I was there and she told me what the caller wanted. I explained it to her it was a scam and she hung up. We looked up the phone number and sure enough, it came up at http://www.callercenter.com/360-529-6145.html.

]]> Comment on OIG Features Fraud Alerts via Podcasts ~ Learn About Diabetes Phone Scams by Melinda Ross http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2012/04/oig-podcasts/comment-page-1/#comment-8305 Melinda Ross Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:54:33 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1412#comment-8305 Glad you brought this up. I did read about this scam a lot and I didn't think it'd become this prevalent. Even my own grandma got a call like that before. She's got diabetes but with constant and proper health care, she's always in the pink of health. Well, the phone call was from James who said he was a Medicare representative, and he called up to let grandma know that the doctor ordered some sugar-monitoring device for her and he'd be sending it to her after she's verified her identity and provided her personal information. Well, I was there and she told me what the caller wanted. I explained it to her it was a scam and she hung up. We looked up the phone number and sure enough, it came up at http://www.callercenter.com/360-529-6145.html. Glad you brought this up. I did read about this scam a lot and I didn’t think it’d become this prevalent.

Even my own grandma got a call like that before. She’s got diabetes but with constant and proper health care, she’s always in the pink of health. Well, the phone call was from James who said he was a Medicare representative, and he called up to let grandma know that the doctor ordered some sugar-monitoring device for her and he’d be sending it to her after she’s verified her identity and provided her personal information. Well, I was there and she told me what the caller wanted. I explained it to her it was a scam and she hung up. We looked up the phone number and sure enough, it came up at http://www.callercenter.com/360-529-6145.html.

]]> Comment on Medicare Issues Sanction Notice to Aetna Insurance Company by sharon coburn http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2010/04/aetna-receives-sanction-notice/comment-page-1/#comment-8281 sharon coburn Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:04:57 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=535#comment-8281 i have only been with aetna for 3 months and it has been hell. if they were being sanctioned 2 yeard ago and they still have serious problems why is medicare still using them? why are they letting medicare patients continue to sign up with them? where is my obama care? i have only been with aetna for 3 months and it has been hell. if they were being sanctioned 2 yeard ago and they still have serious problems why is medicare still using them? why are they letting medicare patients continue to sign up with them? where is my obama care?

]]> Comment on Watch Out for the American Opportunity Act Scam by Jack steely http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/2011/08/american-opportunity-act-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-8275 Jack steely Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:52:59 +0000 http://blog.cahealthadvocates.org/?p=1139#comment-8275 I was given a form to fill out and fax to a out of service number. Then I was told to go a office on century blvd & van ness and drop form in mail slot. Or a man would be there between 12 & 12:30 and I could give it to him. Its real fishy but im going to go and see what type of person this is . I was given a form to fill out and fax to a out of service number. Then I was told to go a office on century blvd & van ness and drop form in mail slot. Or a man would be there between 12 & 12:30 and I could give it to him. Its real fishy but im going to go and see what type of person this is .

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