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Background: The Union Forum is composed of representatives of about 65 major unions including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Auto Workers (UAW), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Teamsters, AFGE, Screen Actors Guild, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Hotel and Restaurant Workers, International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, and others. These unions represent approximately thirteen million members, not to mention retirees and their families. The Forum functions as a vehicle for an ongoing dialogue on the Medicare program between the union community and CMS. Union Forum Agenda: CMS staff provides opportunity for the union representatives who participate in the Forum to identify issues and questions regarding the Medicare program that will then become agenda items for the Forum conference calls. The emphasis is on communicating and discussing Medicare issues and Medicare-related messages to the union member community for the benefit of their organizations, union members, and members' welfare. Opportunity is also available for presentations and discussions by unions. The Union Forum may lead to union participation on CMS Task Forces, Workgroups, and Committees needing union input. Topics for the Union Forum discussion include an explanation of the Medicare prescription drug coverage and related issues such as important dates, enrollment, low income subsidy, employer subsidy, creditable coverage, communications plan for getting messages to employees and retirees, Medicare's new preventive services, managed care plans, CMS research and demonstrations, caregiver materials, satellite broadcasts, long term care issues, disease management, and other Medicare topics. Union Forum Schedule: The Union Forum is a conference call scheduled for 1 PM to 2 PM (Eastern Time) on the fourth Thursday of each month. Union Forum members call into a toll-free 1-800 number to participate on the conference call. The agenda will be distributed to Union Forum members a week in advance of the call.
Page Last Modified: 05/12/2008 6:32:32 AM
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