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We are really happy to have you with us today, Ms. Block, and we would be pleased to get your statement. STATEMENT OF ABBY L. BLOCK, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR BENEFICIARY CHOICES, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AS WELL AS MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS), BALTIMORE, MD Ms. Block. Thank you for inviting me to talk about Medicare Benefit and also, specifically, marketing compliance.

Working closely with Congress, we have actually fine-tuned Medicare Benefit for many years to advertise strong plan engagement throughout the nation. With a vibrant industry of prepare for 2007, beneficiary enrollment is currently at an all-time high. I boast of these successes as well as stand dedicated to work with you in the days in advance to protect option for people with Medicare.

Such fringe benefits differ by strategy, but can include: lower cost-sharing, boosted Part D prescription drug protection, Part B and D costs reductions; and, access to things and services like listening device, regular physicals or vision exams that initial Medicare does not cover. No matter of the programs' successes, CMS takes current records of aggressive marketing of some items extremely seriously.

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I wish to talk today about several of the manner ins which CMS is developing upon lessons found out and details collected throughout 2006. CMS enforcement for advertising infractions varies from issuing a warning letter or rehabilitative action plan to putting on hold enrollment and also also, ultimately, ending a strategy from the program - Medicare agent Huntington NY. This year alone, we have fined strategies greater than $400,000 in civil monetary fines for failing to offer information to beneficiaries in a prompt manner.

Our experience reveals that, on occasion, exclusive fee-for- solution strategies have actually not been clear concerning what they offer our recipients and also what they do not provide. For 2008, we will certainly need plans to include certain, unambiguous language in all advertising materials, enrollment products as well as sales presentations laying out what a beneficiary can expect if he or she signs up for a strategy, and also call all brand-new candidates to validate that they do, in truth, comprehend the functions of the strategy and also dream to sign up.

Our utmost problem is to assist and also secure the beneficiary. Consequently, recipients as well as enrollees misdirect by a plan are offered an opportunity to switch to another strategy. Additionally, throughout the very first quarter of annually, all enrollees already have the opportunity to change out of exclusive fee-for-service plans or any kind of other MA plan for any type of reason as well as choose an additional alternative.

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CMS manages violations of our advertising and marketing guidelines. CMS is taking lots of actions to recognize companies in demand of compliance intervention, consisting of monitoring complaints by carrying out secret shoppings of sales events throughout the country.

Specifically, CMS functions cooperatively with the National Association of Insurance Coverage Commissioners and also State departments of insurance coverage to establish a model compliance and enforcement Memorandum of Comprehending. Up until now, 20 States and also Puerto Rico have signed the MOU that will certainly allow us to share information about non-compliant advertising and marketing activities. CMS plans to release soon useful reference a recommended guideline that will certainly help with oversight for Medicare Benefit plans and also Component D prescription drug strategies.

These are only the first actions we are requiring to guarantee that Medicare recipients are not being misleaded, misinformed or ripped off. We are holding plans in charge of the activities of both utilized and independent agents offering their items. This includes needing documented training of marketing representatives and brokers. Finally, I intend to guarantee you that the large majority of elders that purchased Medicare Advantage products are pleased with their plans and the solutions they are getting.

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Thank you, Ms. Source Block. Before we get to questions for you, we would like to listen to from our Position Participant, Legislator Smith, as well as Legislator Whitehouse. Thank you, Legislator Kohl, for calling this essential hearing on a really crucial concern.

You have actually heard me whine in the past that the leadership of the Us senate should talk to the Aging Board before they schedule ballots. We ask forgiveness to the witnesses. We thanks for your extravagance as well as your time. We value it deeply, specifically this certain problem. I want to make a distinction, which I wish people that are interested will certainly understand.

These points must be transmitted out. All stakeholders that wish to see this program continue requirement to recognize that, if left you could try here untreated, this will undermine confidence in the program. Having claimed that, I want to explain my belief that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Component D are tolerable simply since they are personal shipment systems.

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They can function better. But to all that have a rate of interest in the continued success of these programs, it comes to each people separately to do all that we can to repair the problems as well as to repair them quick. What I did when I was Chairman and also now, as Position Member-- and I share the Chairman's issue-- what I began to do in the 109th Congress is to provide oversight.

It requires to change. So we will certainly continue that oversight with the sight, at the very least, from my sight, to preserving and also strengthening these programs that do so a lot great, aid many individuals, especially, in country areas. So any type of company with a rate of interest in either prescription medicines or Medicare Advantage: Hop on top of this as well as jump on top of it quickly.

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