Michigan
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 V Office
serving Michigan is located in Chicago. 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.
- Michigan is located in Region 5, the Midwestern Region. The office is
located in Chicago. Its website is http://www.ssa.gov/chicago.
-
Further contact information, including addresses, for SSA’s local
Michigan offices can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/chicago/michigan.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:
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs):
- Additional prescription drug benefits may be offered through
a State Pharmacy Assistance Program.
Access, Eligibility and Contact Information:
- Elder Prescription Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program assists low-income
seniors in paying for prescription drugs. An individual must have
an annual income equal to or less than 2005 of the federal poverty level (FPL).
They
must not have any other prescription drug coverage and live in a
non-institutionalized setting. Enrollment is not open for new participants. However,
the emergency
component is available if an individual has an income at 150% or
less of the FPL and has a medical emergency.
1-866-747-5844 (First Health Services Corporation)
517-241-3424 (Michigan Department of Community Health – EPIC Program)
http://www.miepic.com/
Legislative Issues:
- House Bill 4529 would establish
a discount prescription drug program for any resident who receives benefits
under the state Medicaid program
with no age or income limits. The bill is currently in the Committee
on Health Policy.
- The Michigan Department of Community Health submitted a
proposal to CMS to receive federal matching funds to expand pharmacy
benefits through
EPIC to those eligible for Medicaid.
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 two coalitions serving Michigan:
- Lead Agency: Detroit Area Agency on Aging. Lead contact: Marvin cato
at 313-446-4444 ext. 5842 or catom@daaa1a.org
- Lead Agency: Region IIIA Area Agency on Aging. Lead Contact: Peggy Sattler,
Program Coordinator at 269-373-5153 or pesatt@kalcounty.com
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 Michigan’s
SHIP below or at the national website.
- In Michigan, the Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), in the
Michigan Office of Services to the Aging administers the SHIP program.
The office contracts with the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan
to provide counseling. Toll-free calls are routed to the nearest
MMAP office. They can be contacted at:
1-800-803-7174
www.mymmap.org
www.nmha.org/medicare
For more information or questions, please email schrinfo@nmha.org or
call 1-800-969-6642
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