Hassan proposes beefing up Medicare hotline
Feb. 19—WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., is proposing a bipartisan bill to improve access for family caregivers through the federal 1-800-MEDICARE Hotline.
The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act is aimed at offering more training and up-to-date alerts for caregivers and seniors who are on the federal health insurance program.
"The 1-800-MEDICARE hotline is a vitally important resource for seniors and caregivers to get information about care options, medical expenses, and more," Hassan said.
"This bill is a common sense, bipartisan measure to ensure that the hotline is providing the best and most efficient support possible for seniors and their family caregivers through increased education, training, outreach, and opportunities for feedback."
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, is a cosponsor.
"Caregivers carry a tremendous burden while caring for loved ones, and I know first-hand that caregivers too often face unnecessary barriers when trying to coordinate care," Tillis said in a statement.
The hotline (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week except for some federal holidays.
A group of 37 organizations backed the measure, ranging from AARP and the Medicare Rights Center to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
"The 168,000 family caregivers in New Hampshire need common sense solutions to help them care for their loved ones at home, where most Americans want to be," AARP New Hampshire State Director Christina FitzPatrick said in a statement.
"We thank Senator Hassan for her leadership on the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act, which brings us one step closer to providing the support that caregivers need."
Specifics in the bill include:
—Helping family caregivers use the 1-800-MEDICARE Hotline to better advocate and care for their loved ones;
—Increasing outreach and education to protect beneficiaries and caregivers from fraudulent practices;
—Making it easier for caregivers and seniors to navigate the system and stay up-to-date on fraud prevention recommendations;
—Streamlining training so 1-800-MEDICARE operators provide appropriate information to family caregivers;
—Directs the Office of Inspector General in the Department of Health and Human Services to make publicly available recommendations to better educate beneficiaries and improve agency investigation of fraud reports; and;
—Give family caregivers more opportunity to report their experiences while using the hotline.
