March 29, 2006

MEDICARE CONSUMER ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CMS Media Affairs
March 7, 2006

 Medicare Beneficiaries Urged to be on the Look-out for Phone Scams.

 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) warns seniors and people with disabilities to be aware of a scheme that asks Medicare beneficiaries for money and checking account information to help them enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. 

 This scheme is called the "$299 Ring" for the typical amount of money Medicare beneficiaries are talked into withdrawing from their checking accounts to pay for a non-existent prescription drug plan.  Consumers can report these cases to their local law enforcement agencies or
1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).

 Medicare has received complaints from Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts New Jersey and Georgia. Complaints have been made against a number of different companies, but authorities believe that the companies are the same and are typically based outside the U. S.  As soon as CMS receives these complaints, they are investigated and referred to federal law enforcement authorities.

 No Medicare drug plan can ask a person with Medicare for bank account or other personal information over the telephone.  No beneficiary should ever provide that kind of information to a caller.  They should contact their local police department if they believe someone is trying to take money or information from them illegally.

 People with Medicare should also remember that they should be on the lookout for anyone trying to take advantage of them and take steps to protect themselves by remembering:

o No one can come into your home uninvited.

o No one can ask you for personal information during their marketing activities.

o Always keep all personal information, such as your Medicare number, safe, just as you would a credit card or a bank account number.

o Whenever you have a question or concern about any activity regarding Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

 In addition, legitimate Medicare drug plans will not ask for payment over the telephone or the Internet. They must bill the beneficiary for the monthly premium. Typically, that amount is set up as an automatic withdrawal from the beneficiary's monthly Social Security check. 

 Beneficiaries may also opt to pay the monthly premiums in other ways such as writing a check or setting up automatic payments from their checking accounts.

# # #

Beth Bowen, Executive Director

N.C. Association for Medical Equipment Services

March 6, 2006

NEW PRODUCT!!

Med-Response is pleased to announce the arrival of a new product: Summit Stairlifts. If you or a loved one have difficulty negotiating stairs in your home, Summit Stairlifts may

January 10, 2006

Dear Home Oxygen User,

As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on a very controversial budget bill (S. 1932).  Unfortunately, the bill includes drastic changes to home oxygen policy that will affect older and disabled Americans in Medicare.

We urge you to contact your Congressman or Congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote NO on this bill when it comes up for a vote in late January or early February.  Please call the switchboard at the U.S. Capitol at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative. Then ask to speak with the legislative assistant for health care issues and urge that the Member of Congress vote NO on S. 1932.

Medicare currently pays for home oxygen on a monthly basis, paying a flat rate of about $7.50 per day for as long as you need your oxygen. The monthly payment covers the cost of the oxygen equipment, the refills of the portable oxygen system, the home delivery, billing Medicare, the oxygen supplies (cannulas, tubing, oxygen conservers, etc.), 24-hour emergency service, maintenance, repair and replacement if needed.  Many members of Congress feel this payment system costs too much and should change drastically. 

  As your home oxygen provider, we will no longer be paid by Medicare to provide you with free 24-hour emergency service, free oxygen supplies, no-cost checks and maintenance of  your equipment, nor be available for free home visits or clinical support.

We strongly oppose this change, fearing it will create an unfair burden on home oxygen users and place patients at safety and medical risk.  This position is supported by many clinical professional and patient advocacy organizations. The one last chance to defeat this bill is coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives at the end of the month.  So the time to act is now.  Congress needs to hear from home oxygen users as soon as possible during January from those who will be adversely affected by this controversial change in law.

We strongly urge you to call, email, or visit your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and express your concern and opposition to this bill.  Ask your Congressman or Congresswoman to vote NO on S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.  

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us today.

Sincerely,

MRALD: Mobility-Related Activities of Daily Living

bathing performed in customary locations in the home. The patient must be able to safely use the mobility device and the device must sufficiently resolve the mobility limitation. This must be documented in the physician's notes and be available to the DMERC in case of an audit.
Med-Response is in the process of instituting an educational program for our customer service representatives and the medical community regarding this change.