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We are extremely delighted to have you with us today, Ms. Block, as well as we would certainly be pleased to obtain your testimony. STATEMENT OF ABBY L. BLOCK, SUPERVISOR, FACILITY FOR RECIPIENT CHOICES, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AS WELL AS MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS), BALTIMORE, MD Ms. Block. Thanks for welcoming me to talk about Medicare Advantage and, particularly, advertising and marketing compliance.

Working closely with Congress, we have refined Medicare Benefit over the years to advertise solid strategy involvement across the nation. With a lively industry of prepare for 2007, recipient enrollment is now at an all-time high. I boast of these successes as well as stand dedicated to collaborate with you in the days ahead to preserve selection for individuals with Medicare.

Such added advantages vary by plan, but can consist of: lower cost-sharing, improved Part D prescription drug coverage, Component B and also D costs reductions; as well as, accessibility to products and also solutions like listening devices, routine physicals or vision tests that initial Medicare does not cover. Despite the programs' successes, CMS takes recent records of hostile marketing of some items extremely seriously.

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I desire to talk today concerning some of the manner ins which CMS is building upon lessons discovered and also info collected during 2006. CMS enforcement for advertising and marketing infractions varies from providing a caution letter or corrective activity strategy to putting on hold enrollment and also even, eventually, ending a plan from the program - Medicare agent Huntington NY. This year alone, we have actually fined strategies a lot more than $400,000 in civil financial penalties for falling short to provide information to recipients in a prompt manner.

Our experience reveals that, on occasion, private fee-for- service strategies have actually not been clear about what they supply our beneficiaries as well as what they do not give. For that reason, for 2008, we will certainly need strategies to include details, distinct language in all marketing materials, registration materials and also sales discussions outlining what a beneficiary can expect if he or she enrolls in a strategy, and also call all brand-new candidates to confirm that they do, actually, comprehend the functions of the strategy and also desire to enroll.

Our utmost worry is to aid and also protect the recipient. Beneficiaries and enrollees misguide click to read more by a plan are given a possibility to change to one more plan. Furthermore, during the initial quarter of annually, all enrollees already have the opportunity to switch over out of private fee-for-service plans or any type of various other MA strategy for any type of reason and also pick one more option.

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CMS manages infractions of our advertising standards. CMS is taking many actions to determine companies in requirement of conformity treatment, including tracking issues by performing secret shoppings of sales occasions throughout the nation.

Especially, CMS works cooperatively with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and State departments of insurance to develop a model compliance as well as enforcement Memorandum of Recognizing. Far, 20 States as well as Puerto Rico have authorized the MOU that will certainly enable us to share information concerning non-compliant marketing activities. CMS plans to release quickly a suggested guideline that will certainly facilitate oversight for Medicare Benefit strategies as well as Part D prescription medicine plans.

We are holding plans responsible for the actions of both used and also independent agents offering their items. I want to assure you that the vast majority of elders that acquired Medicare Benefit products are pleased with over here their plans as well as the services they are obtaining.

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Thank you again for the opportunity to consult with you today. I look onward to addressing your inquiries. The Chairman. Thanks, Ms. Block. Before we get to questions for you, we would such as to listen to from our Ranking Participant, Senator Smith, along with Senator Whitehouse. Legislator Smith. Thanks, Senator Kohl, for calling this important hearing on a really important issue.

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

These things need to be directed out. All stakeholders that would like to see this program continue need to understand that, if left uncontrolled, this will certainly threaten self-confidence in the program. Having stated that, I intend to make clear my idea that Medicare Benefit and Medicare Component D are tolerable simply due to the fact that they are exclusive distribution systems.

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They can function better. To all who have an interest in the ongoing success of these programs, it comes to each of us individually to do all that we can to fix the troubles as well as to repair them quick. What I did when I was Chairman and currently, as Ranking Member-- and also I share the Chairman's issue-- what I started to do in the 109th Congress is to supply oversight.

It needs to alter. So we will continue that oversight Website with the view, a minimum of, from my sight, to maintaining and strengthening these programs that do so a lot good, assist numerous individuals, particularly, in rural areas. Any kind of company with a rate of interest in either prescription medicines or Medicare Advantage: Get on top of this as well as obtain on top of it fast.

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