Dear Partners, CMS wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year. In this time of thanks and giving, we are especially thankful to all of you, for your giving of time; for your dedicated efforts in assisting people with Medicare. Transitioning into a New Part D Plan A key objective during the open enrollment period (which ends on December 31, 2007) is to help people in Medicare understand their health care and prescription drug plan options. As people have selected new plans or as they have been reassigned to a new plan for 2008, we want to make sure that both you " our partner " and Medicare consumers are aware of some new publications that have been developed to assist those who may be transitioning into a new Part D plan. Pharmacy Counter Tips Plan enrollment paperwork continues to be processed as quickly as possible. If a person with Medicare needs a prescription filled before they have received their new plan ID card, there are other items they can bring with them to pharmacy to assure they will be able to get the medicines they need. A new consumer tip sheet, CMS publication: 11343, Quick Tips for People with Medicare: Using Your New Medicare Drug Coverage, is now available in both English at http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11343.pdf and Spanish at http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11343_S.pdf on the web. In addition, CMS continues to work with WellPoint Next Rx to implement the Point-of-Sale facilitated enrollment process which provides immediate coverage for people with Medicare who have Medicaid or have qualified for extra help, but aren't enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. A partner tip sheet, CMS publication 11328-P, Information Partners Can Use on: The Point-of-Sale Facilitated Enrollment Process, will soon be available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnership/downloads/11328.pdf to help you better understand the process of this immediate coverage and the subsequent proof of eligibility required by the beneficiary. Additional Resources Additional resources available to assist you in your outreach and support to Medicare consumers in your community include: CMS publication: 11246-P, Information Partners Can Use on Repayment of Premiums and Copayments Paid Out-of-Pocket at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/11246-P.pdf on the web. CMS publication: 11112, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: How to File a Grievance, Request a Coverage Determination or File an Appeal in English and Spanish at http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11112.pdf on the web. CMS publication: 11259-P, Handling Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Complaints at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/11259P.pdf on the web. Continued LIS Outreach As a reminder in your continued and future outreach " if you come across someone who may qualify for the extra help, they can still apply, and if they qualify, enroll in a prescription drug plan anytime throughout the year. CMS has developed an easy-to-understand brochure outlining the value and process to apply for the extra help. You can obtain copies of these publications and other resources for outreach to people who may qualify for extra help in our LIS Outreach Toolkit at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/limitedincomeandresources/ on the web. Upcoming Partner Call The Partner Relations Group of the CMS Office of External Affairs will host a Partner Forum early in January to review initial Part D 2008 beneficiary experiences. Stay tuned! Partner List Serve To receive these partner email updates directly please join our Partner CMS list serve at Partnership Email Updates. Again, thank you for your continued efforts to help people with Medicare get the most out of their health coverage and live happier and healthier lives. We look forward to continued success in the New Year!
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