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Amper, Politziner and Mattia’s Healthcare Services Group diligently follows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) updates for the benefit of our healthcare clients and contacts. AP&M recognizes the importance of CMS as it relates to all healthcare organizations and we are dedicated to keeping you informed.

CMS has issued the following quarterly update for providers:

CMS and SSA to mail important drug coverage information

In an effort to keep you informed of the progress in implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act, we wanted to give you a preview of upcoming activities on the new prescription drug coverage. We want to do all we can to keep you informed in the event that you are asked about this new coverage over the next months by a patient, client, friend or loved one before and during the open enrollment period.

As you know, all people with Medicare will be eligible for this new prescription drug coverage. There will be extra help for those most in need. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) are working together to insure the successful education of and communication with people with Medicare who are both eligible and potentially eligible for the extra help.

Starting at the end of May through June, CMS is mailing notices to people who are automatically eligible for extra help paying for a Medicare prescription drug plan, including people with Medicare and Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare Savings Program coverage. The notices will let these people know that Medicare prescription drug coverage is coming, and that they will get extra help without needing to apply for it. The notices can be viewed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/lir.asp.

This summer, SSA will mail a different letter to other people who do not automatically qualify for the extra help, but may be potentially eligible for it. The letter will include an application that people can fill out and return to find out if they qualify for extra help paying for a Medicare prescription drug plan. This letter can viewed at

http://www.ssa.gov/organizations/medicareoutreach2/ on the web. Select “Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.”

Please know that we appreciate your willingness to answer questions and help CMS spread the word about the upcoming Medicare prescription drug coverage and the extra help. Remember to visit our Partner Center at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/default.asp to learn about new outreach developments and resources. For example, 1-800-MEDICARE is gearing up to help people with Medicare understand Medicare prescription drug coverage and determine if they qualify for the extra help paying for prescription drugs. Now, callers can use the automated system to get information about Medicare prescription drug coverage.

If you have any questions, please respond to this e-mail.