Maine
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 I Office
serving Maine is located in Boston. For inquiries regarding the CMS
Medicare Prescription Drug Education Campaign, contact:
- 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.
- Maine is located in the Boston
Region. Its office website is http://www.ssa.gov/boston/index.htm.
- Further
contact information, including addresses, for SSA’s local
Maine offices can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/boston/ME.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 Maine, contact the Office
of
MaineCare Services at:
207-624-7539 or 1-800-321-5557
http://www.state.me.us/bms/
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs):
- Additional prescription drug benefits may be offered through
a State Pharmacy Assistance Program.
Access, Eligibility and Contact Information:
- Low-Cost Drugs for the
Elderly Program is for Maine residents who are age 62 and older;
or 19+ years old and disabled; AND meet the following income
guidelines:
(1) One person in household -- $1,476 per month, or (2) Two people in household
-- $1,978 per month, or (3) If you spend at least 40% of your yearly income
on prescription drugs, your income limit will be 25% higher.
1-888-600-2466 or 207-287-2674
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/medbook.htm
- Maine Rx Plus Program has no
age or asset criteria, but to be eligible
for the program an individual’s income must be no more than 350 percent
of FPL. The program gives discounts of 15 to 60 percent on all prescription
drugs
that are on the Maine Rx Plus formulary.
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/medbook.htm#mainerxplus
To enroll: 1-866-796-2463 or 207-287-2674 for the Bureau of Medical Services
Legislative Issues:
- HP 924, signed into law in 2005,
allows individuals enrolled into the Medicare drug benefit to also
receive coverage under the Elderly Low-Cost Drug
subsidy
program. 1
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 is one regional coalitions serving
Maine. Contact:
Anne Smith at Legal Services for the Elderly at 1-877-353-3771
or asmith@mainelse.org
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.
- The Maine SHIP grant is administered
by the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS) and is a partnership
between the BEAS, five area
agencies on aging (AAA), the Bureau of Insurance, and the Legal Services for
the
Elderly (LSE). Counseling and outreach activities are performed
primarily by staff and volunteers at the AAAs. Staff attorneys at the
LSE Hotline
counsel beneficiaries by phone and refer them to AAAs if face-to-face
assistance is required. It can be contacted at:
1-877-353-3771http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/hiap/purpose.htm
www.nmha.org/medicare
For more information or questions, please email schrinfo@nmha.org or
call 1-800-969-6642
National Conference of State Legislatures (August 1, 2005).
2005 Prescription Drug State Legislation, Mid-year Edition: updated August
1, 2005. NCSL Health Program. Available at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugdisc05.htm.
|
