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The Medicare Savings Programs are publicly financed programs that help people pay for costs associated with Medicare, such as premiums, co-payments and deductibles. An estimated 5 million people are eligible to receive financial help through the Medicare Savings Programs, but only half are enrolled. Eligibility is generally granted to Medicare enrollees with low incomes, including people with disabilities and seniors.

State Solutions is a national program working to increase enrollment in and access to the Medicare Savings Programs. State Solutions provides technical assistance and direction to grant recipients, and disseminates information about innovative and promising practices throughout the nation.

Funding for the project is provided by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Commonwealth Fund.


	Expanding Medicare Savings Program Eligibility: A Cost-Saving Strategy for States with State Pharmacy Assistance Programs? By Kimberley Fox, University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service

	Assessing the Feasibility of Developing a Uniform Application for Low- Income Subsidy Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries By Kimberley Fox, University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service; Mary Angeline Cabanilla

	Why Inreach Makes Good Business Sense: The Case for Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans By Kristen Kiefer, Marisa Scala-Foley, and Jay Greenberg, National Council on Aging; Kimberley Fox, University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service; Bob Power, HealthPartners Research Foundation

	Finding an Easier Way: Public/Private Solutions for Increasing Medicare Savings Programs and Part D Low-Income Subsidy Enrollment.
	State Solutions held an invitational Summit on March 20-22, 2007 at the Westin Embassy Row. The event was hosted by the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy and was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The purpose of the event was to:
	Bring together key state and federal officials, consumer advocates, and private sector leaders now that the Part D benefit is in place to discuss progress in integrating the Medicare Part D low-income subsidies (LIS) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). Identify successful practices in states that have modified administrative procedures or eligibility rules in MSP programs with the roll-out of Part D. Consider and discuss the business case for private Part D plans (both MA-PD and PDPs) to identify eligible individuals for Medicare Savings Programs and LIS within their Part D plan members and get them enrolled.
	*-- Agenda --*
	Presentations
	Has Medicare Savings Program Enrollment Increased as a Result of Part D? Presentation by Susan Reinhard. Medicare Savings Programs and the Low Income Subsidy Presentation by Winnie Pizzano. Do the Doors to LIS Lead to MSP (or Vice Versa)? Presentation by Debra Lipson. Indiana Medicare Savings Program Presentation by Grace Chandler. Sharing the Right Data with the Right People - The Federal Perspective Presentation by Sharon Donovan. Data Match Processes in Arizona Presentation by Linda Skinner. The MSP "Business Case" in the Private Sector Presentation by Bob Power. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Limited Income Subsidy (LIS) Member Outreach & Benefits Screening Program Presentation by Maureen Hanrahan and Jay Greenberg. Vermont's Experience with VPharm and Medicare Savings Program Changes Presentation by Brendan Hogan. Medicare Part D Implementation - Maine's Approach Presentation by Jude Walsh. Improving the Medicare Savings Programs Presentation by Paul Van de Water.

	Reasons Beneficiaries Do Not Apply for the Low-Income Subsidy By Laura L. Summer

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This page was last updated on: 06/12/2008