Medicare Links

Federal Government:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
cms.hhs.gov/home/medicare.asp

Description: CMS is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In conjunction with the Health Resources and Services Administration, CMS runs the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Information Available: Medicare statistics, data, reports, enrollment figures, and expenditures. Also includes information on Medicare health plans, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), professional/technical publications, and the Coordination of Benefits (COB) program.

The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
www.medicare.gov

Description: The U.S. Government developed this site to provide specific information to participants in the Medicare program.

Information Available: Basic Medicare information; comparisons of local health plans, plan options, nursing homes, Medigap insurance policies, and dialysis facilities; publications; information on Prescription Drug Assistance Programs; Medicare contacts; and assistance locating Medicare participating physicians.

National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare
medicare.commission.gov/medicare/index.html

Description: The National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare was created by Congress in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The Commission was charged with examining the Medicare program and making recommendations to strengthen and improve it in time for the retirement of the "Baby Boomers." The Commission issued its final report on March 16, 1999.

Information Available: The Final Breaux-Thomas Medicare Reform Proposal titled "Building a Better Medicare for Today and Tomorrow," along with a cost estimate of the Final Breaux-Thomas Proposal, and an index of other Medicare documents

Missouri Government:

Missouri Medicare Services: A CMS Contracted Medicare Carrier
www.momedicare.com

Description: Missouri Medicare Services is a carrier for Medicare Part B services. They are responsible for distributing information to providers and beneficiaries in the state of Missouri.

Information Available: Answers to Part B coverage issues, the latest Medicare updates, free Medicare events and seminars, publications, and access to the MedPard Database (The Medicare Participating Physician/Supplier Directory contains the names, addresses, telephone numbers and specialties of Medicare participating physicians and suppliers).

National Organizations:

The Medicare Rights Center (MRC)
www.medicarerights.org

Description: MRC, a non-profit organization, dedicates itself to ensuring that individuals participating in Medicare receive quality and affordable health care.

Information Available: Basic Medicare history and facts, a Medicare training and reference manual, policy briefs/reports, a comparison of the different type of Medicare plans, and a list of discount drug programs.

Policy:

Families USA - Voice for Health Care Consumers
http://www.familiesusa.org/index.html

Description: Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization, committed to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.

Information Available: Health policy reports concerning Medicare. The site contains issue briefs, analyses, articles, and links to papers produced by Families USA, as well as other health policy organizations.

Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
www.medicareadvocacy.org

Description: The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. was founded in 1986 and provides education, advocacy, and legal assistance to help elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary healthcare.

Information Available: Summary of Medicare; information on managed care, Medigap, home health, skilled nursing facilities, Medicare Part B, hospice, Medicare reform, and prescription drugs; publications include: newsletters, brochures, self-help packets, manuals, and booklets.

The Century Foundation and Medicare Reform:
www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=IN&pubid={8883517B-30C1-4720-B309-FCB535DC74BB}

Description: The Century Foundation works to assess and encourage reform to improve Medicare without undermining its character as a universal social insurance program. The Foundation has interest in promoting reforms that might reduce or eliminate the disadvantages faced by vulnerable populations within Medicare.

Medicare Watch
www.medicarewatch.org

Information Available: Recent reports and findings; news articles; relevant publications by the nation's premier health care foundations, think tanks, and consulting firms; and a directory of Medicare experts.

The Basics
www.tcf.org/Publications/HealthCare/MedicareBasic2001.pdf

Information Available: A collection of available information on Medicare in a series of pamphlets called "The Basics."

The Commonwealth Fund-Program on Medicare's Future
www.cmwf.org/programs/programs_list.htm?attrib_id=9129

Description: The Commonwealth Fund seeks to understand and minimize barriers to effective health care services for all people. The Program on Medicare's Future attempts to understand the experiences of Medicare beneficiaries.

Information Available: Medicare Publications and descriptions of program grants given by The Commonwealth Fund under the topic of Medicare.

The Kaiser Family Foundation-The Medicare Policy Project
www.kff.org/medicare/index.cfm

Description: The Medicare Policy Project provides a framework for the Foundation's work related to the Medicare program and health coverage for elderly and disabled people.

Information Available: Reports, resource books and fact sheets; state-by-state Medicare data; Medicare quick facts; 2003 Medicare benefits table; and information on Medicare reform and spending.

The National Center for Policy Analysis' Medicare Page
www.ncpa.org/pi/health/hedex3.html

Description: The National Center of Policy Analysis (NCPA) was established in 1983. The NCPA's goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector.

Information Available: Provides analysis and editorials of the Medicare program and Medicare reform.