Announcement/Press release

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is finalizing policies that strengthen enrollee protections to ensure Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans meet the needs of people with Medicare. The final rule builds on existing CMS policies to promote competition, increase access to care, and protect individuals from inappropriate marketing and prior authorization. CMS is taking bold steps to address predatory marketing strategies to help individuals find the plan that best suits their needs.

On March 28, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a “scam alert” regarding criminals who are impersonating SSA OIG agents and requesting that their targets meet them in person to hand off cash. SSA OIG reports that this recent method of handing cash directly to a phony agent is a dangerous twist on a known scam tactic that pressures individuals to pay in a specific way by using cash or gift cards. SSA OIG and official government agencies do not conduct business in this manner. SSA OIG reminds individuals that if they think they have been scammed to notify financial institutions to safeguard their accounts and file a police report...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health recognizes National Minority Health Month during the month of April. CMS OMH raises awareness about health disparities that disproportionately impact people from historically marginalized communities. CMS is committed to identifying where health care disparities exist and works to improve health equity across their programs and policies. CMS focuses on incorporating the perspective of lived experiences and integrating safety net providers and community-based organizations into their programs to eradicate differences in health outcomes experienced by people who are disadvantaged or underserved. This article includes a list of resources to be shared to spread awareness.

The CMS National Training Program provides save the dates for their Medicare Program basics webinars. These webinars help those who assist people with Medicare make informed decisions about their 2024 health care coverage. The webinars will include different topics each day. Participants can attend one or both days, and space is limited. The webinars will be held on Tuesday, April 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. E.T and Wednesday, April 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. E.T.

Starting on Thursday, March 28, CMS is extending a temporary special enrollment period (SEP) to help people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid or CHIP transition to Marketplace coverage in states using HealthCare.gov. The end date of this “Unwinding SEP” will be extended from Wednesday, July 31, 2024, to Saturday, November 30, 2024. This will help more people leaving Medicaid or CHIP secure affordable, comprehensive coverage through the start of the next open enrollment period. This extension will be crucial to ensuring people remain covered, including in states that have given people additional time to renew their coverage, as CMS has recommended, to help eligible people stay enrolled.

The White House released a proclamation highlighting the commitment and value of care workers, and recognized this month, April 2024, as Care Workers Recognition Month. It summarizes the efforts taken by the Biden Administration to support care workers in the United States. President Biden mentions the current actions being taken by agencies to achieve proper pay for home care workers by ensuring they receive larger Medicaid payments and promoting programs that support careers in the field. This proclamation expresses the administration’s appreciation of care workers and their dedication.

USAging invites Aging Network providers and partners who are responsible for the administration of caregiver services and supports to register to join the National Caregiver Champion Collaborative (CCC). With a purpose of facilitating and supporting peer networking and engagement for those leading caregiving services and supports, participants will gather regularly in an affinity group model to share successful strategies and best practices, discuss lessons learned, explore new partnerships, and get insight into the latest research and emerging evidence-based programs. Champions will be encouraged to develop on-going state, regional, or local caregiver efforts focused on enhancing and innovating caregiver services and supports...

On March 26, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced 41 prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part B that may have lower beneficiary coinsurances. From April 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024, some people with Medicare who take these drugs may save between $1 and $3,575 per average dose, depending on the beneficiary’s coverage. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, drug companies that raise their drug prices faster than the rate of inflation are required to pay a rebate to Medicare. Starting April 1, 2023, Medicare beneficiaries may pay a lower coinsurance for certain Part B drugs if the drug’s price increases...

On March 21, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) introduced a new resource aimed at boosting the participation of people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment. The Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Transformation Hub brings together resources from across the federal government to provide practical guidance, policy information, and evidence-based best practices for people with disabilities, their families, employers, employment service providers, and state agencies. Competitive integrated employment ensures that people with disabilities are paid competitive wages and work in environments where the majority of employees do not have disabilities.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging recently released a request for information (RFI) seeking input from stakeholders relating to the impact of hoarding disorder (HD) on older adults. Hoarding disorder (HD) is a chronic and progressive condition that leads people to accumulate more objects than their homes can accommodate. HD impacts people of all ages. However, the prevalence of hoarding appears to be significantly greater for older adults (roughly 6.2%) compared to younger adults (roughly 2%). The Senate Special Committee on Aging is charged with studying “any and all matters pertaining to problems and opportunities of older people,” including problems related to health, housing, care, and assistance...