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We are very pleased to have you with us today, Ms. Block, and also we would certainly be pleased to obtain your testimony. DECLARATION OF ABBY L. BLOCK, DIRECTOR, FACILITY FOR BENEFICIARY OPTIONS, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND ALSO MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS), BALTIMORE, MD Ms. Block. Thank you for welcoming me to go over Medicare Benefit as well as, particularly, marketing compliance.

Working carefully with Congress, we have actually fine-tuned Medicare Advantage over the years to promote strong plan engagement throughout the nation. With a vivid market of prepare for 2007, recipient enrollment is currently at an all-time high. I take pride in these successes and stand dedicated to work with you in the days ahead to protect option for people with Medicare.

Such extra benefits differ by plan, however can consist of: reduced cost-sharing, enhanced Part D prescription drug protection, Component B as well as D premium decreases; as well as, access to things and services like hearing help, routine physicals or vision examinations that initial Medicare does not cover. Despite the programs' successes, CMS takes current reports of hostile advertising of some products extremely seriously.

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I intend to chat today about some of the manner ins which CMS is building upon lessons found out as well as details collected during 2006. CMS enforcement for advertising infractions ranges from issuing a caution letter or restorative activity strategy to putting on hold enrollment and also even, ultimately, ending a strategy from the program - Medicare agent Huntington NY. This year alone, we have actually fined strategies extra than $400,000 in civil financial penalties for falling short to supply info to beneficiaries in a timely manner.

Our experience shows that, once in a while, exclusive fee-for- service plans have not been clear concerning what they use our recipients and what they do not provide. For that reason, for 2008, we will call for plans to consist of specific, unambiguous language in all marketing materials, enrollment materials and sales discussions setting out what a beneficiary can expect if she or he enrolls in a strategy, as well as call all brand-new applicants to confirm that they do, actually, recognize the attributes of the strategy and dream to enroll.

Our utmost issue is to aid and protect the beneficiary. For that reason, beneficiaries and enrollees mislead by a strategy are provided a possibility to switch over to an additional strategy. On top of that, throughout the first quarter of annually, all enrollees currently have the opportunity to change out of personal fee-for-service plans or any type of other MA strategy for any factor and also select one more alternative.

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CMS takes care of infractions of our advertising and marketing guidelines. CMS is taking many steps to recognize organizations in need of compliance treatment, consisting of monitoring grievances by carrying out anonymous secret buyings of sales occasions across the nation.

Specifically, CMS functions cooperatively with the National Association of Insurance Coverage Commissioners and also State departments of insurance coverage to create a model compliance as well as enforcement Memorandum of Recognizing. Thus far, 20 States as well as Puerto Rico have authorized the MOU that will enable us to share information about non-compliant advertising and marketing activities. CMS plans to issue soon a recommended guideline that will promote oversight for Medicare Benefit strategies and also Component D prescription medicine plans.

These are only the preliminary actions we are taking to guarantee that Medicare beneficiaries are not being misleaded, misinformed or defrauded. We are holding strategies accountable for the actions of both utilized and independent agents selling their items. This includes calling for documented training of marketing agents and brokers. I desire to assure you that the huge majority of elders who bought Medicare Benefit items are satisfied with their plans and also the solutions they are receiving.

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Thank you, Ms. Block. Before we obtain to concerns for you, we would such as to hear from our Ranking Participant, Senator Smith, as Look At This well as Legislator Whitehouse. Thank you, Senator Kohl, for calling this vital hearing on a very essential problem.

We thank you for your indulgence and your time (Medicare agent Huntington NY). I want to make a distinction, which I really hope people that are interested will certainly recognize.

These points must be routed out. All stakeholders that would love to see this program proceed demand to understand that, if left unattended, this will weaken self-confidence in the program. Having stated that, I desire to make clear my idea that Medicare Benefit and also Medicare Component D are not poor just since they are private shipment systems.

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They can function much better. However to all that have an interest in the continued success of these programs, it comes to each people separately to do all that we can to fix the problems and to repair them fast. What I did when I was Chairman blog here and also currently, as Position Participant-- and I share the Chairman's problem-- what I began to do in the 109th Congress is to supply oversight.

It requires to change. So we will proceed that oversight with the sight, a minimum of, from my view, to protecting and also strengthening these programs that do so a lot great, aid so lots of individuals, especially, in rural places. Any kind of business with a passion in either prescription medications or Medicare Advantage: Obtain on top of this as well as get on top of it quickly.

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