California
The purpose of this document is to provide resources for gathering more
information regarding Medicare Part D in your state. This listing supplies
contact information for state and federal agencies working on issues relating
to the Medicare prescription drug benefit. It also includes information
about groups with which MHAs may partner to conduct outreach and education
activities.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
- The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is administered
by CMS within the Department of Health and Human Services. The CMS
Region IX Office
serving California is located in San Francisco. For inquiries regarding
the CMS Medicare Prescription Drug Education Campaign, contact:
- Campaign
Manager, Cate Kortzeborn at 415-744-3661 or Catherine.Kortzeborn@cms.hhs.gov
- CA
State Captain, Torris Smith at 415-744-3654 or Torris.Smith@cms.hhs.gov
- Disability/Mental
Health contact: Peter Bauer at 415-744-3664 or Cynthia Nanes
at 415-744-2977
- Medicare beneficiaries can also visit the official
government website, www.medicare.gov, for additional information,
including
billing, appeals and enrollment. For general Medicare information, as well
as information
about health plans, contact the 24-hour toll-free hotline
at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Social Security Administration (SSA):
•
The Social Security Administration helps individuals determine whether
or not they qualify and how to apply for benefits, including Extra Help
for the prescription drug benefit. SSA maintains a toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213,
twenty-four hours a day.
•
The Western Program Service Center is located in San Francisco. Its website
is http://www.ssa.gov/sf/index.html.
•
Further contact information, including addresses, for SSA’s local
California offices can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/sf/offices/sf-california-offices.htm.
•
Individuals are also able to search for local Social Security Administration
offices through a zip code locator at: http://s00dace.ssa.gov/pro/fol/fol-home.html.
State Medicaid Agency:
•
To obtain information regarding Medicaid enrollment, eligibility and
coverage information for those residing in California, contact the California
Department of Health Services at:
MCI 1-800-735-2922 or Sprint 1-888-877-5379
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs):
•
Additional prescription drug benefits may be offered through a State
Pharmacy Assistance Program.
Access, Eligibility and Contact Information:
•
There currently is no State Pharmacy Assistance Program in the state of California.
Legislative Issues:
•
Assembly Bill 75 was passed and sent to the Senate on June 2, 2005. It
would establish the California Rx Plus State Pharmacy Assistance Program
for residents not covered by Medi-Cal or Healthy Families with income below
400% of the poverty line. The bill was referred to the Health Committee.
Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC):
•
ABC coalitions work to help Medicare beneficiaries locate and apply for
additional assistance in paying for prescription drugs. They also aid individuals
in enrolling in both public and private prescription savings programs.
www.accesstobenefits.org
•
There are five regional coalitions serving California:
•
City of Los Angeles – Department of Aging: 1-800-510-2020
•
Council on Aging - Orange County: 714-560-0424
•
Ginny Stafford, Staff Analyst, San Bernardino County Department of Aging
and Adult Services: 909-891-3908/909-891-3900 or gstafford@hss.sbcounty.gov
•
Aging & Independence Services, County of San Diego: 877-358-0202
•
Legal Assistance for Seniors: 510-839-0393
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP):
•
SHIPs offer free counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries
and their families. In addition, SHIPs will be planning Medicare Part D
enrollment and education events throughout each state. The National Network
website is https://www.shiptalk.org. You may find information about California’s
SHIP below or at the national website.
•
Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) delivers SHIP
in the state of California. They can be contacted through their administration
agency, the California Department of Aging at:
1-800-434-0222
www.aging.ca.gov
•
Services are provided either directly by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
or contracted to other agencies. An AAA in your area can be located by calling
1-800-510-2020. A county contact listing is also offered on the website:
http://www.aging.ca.gov/html/local%20aaa/AAA_listing.html.
www.nmha.org/medicare
For more information or questions, please email schrinfo@nmha.org or
call 1-800-969-6642
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