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We are very delighted to have you with us today, Ms. Block, and we would be pleased to get your testimony. DECLARATION OF ABBY L. BLOCK, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR RECIPIENT CHOICES, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SOLUTIONS (CMS), BALTIMORE, MD Ms. Block. Thanks for inviting me to go over Medicare Benefit as well as, in particular, marketing compliance.

Working closely with Congress, we have refined Medicare Advantage throughout the years to advertise solid strategy engagement across the nation. With a dynamic industry of prepare for 2007, recipient enrollment is now at an all-time high. I am proud of these successes and stand devoted to function with you in the days in advance to protect option for people with Medicare.

Such fringe benefits vary by plan, but can consist of: reduced cost-sharing, improved Part D prescription drug protection, Component B and also D premium decreases; and also, access to items and also services like hearing aids, routine physicals or vision examinations that original Medicare does not cover. Despite the programs' successes, CMS takes current reports of aggressive advertising of some items very seriously.

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I wish to talk today about some of the methods that CMS is building on lessons discovered and details collected during 2006. CMS enforcement for marketing offenses ranges from providing a warning letter or rehabilitative action plan to suspending registration and also, inevitably, terminating a strategy from the program - Medicare agent Huntington NY. This year alone, we have fined strategies greater than $400,000 in civil financial fines for stopping working to give info to recipients in a prompt manner.

Our experience reveals that, now and then, private fee-for- service strategies have actually not been clear about what they provide our recipients and also what they do not offer. Consequently, for 2008, we will call for strategies to include details, distinct language in all advertising materials, enrollment products as well as sales presentations laying out what a recipient can expect if she or he registers for a plan, and also call all new candidates to confirm that they do, in truth, recognize the features of the strategy and desire to sign up.

Our utmost issue is to assist as well as protect the beneficiary. As a result, recipients and enrollees misguide by a plan are provided an opportunity to switch to one more plan. In addition, during the initial visit homepage quarter of yearly, all enrollees already have the chance to switch out of exclusive fee-for-service strategies or any various other MA prepare for any factor as well as select an additional option.

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CMS handles infractions of our advertising standards. CMS is taking many steps to determine companies in demand of conformity intervention, including surveillance complaints by conducting secret shoppings of sales occasions across the country.

Particularly, CMS works cooperatively with the National Association of Insurance Coverage Commissioners as well as State departments of insurance coverage to develop a model compliance and also enforcement Memorandum of Recognizing. Far, 20 States and also Puerto Rico have authorized the MOU that will certainly enable us to share details concerning non-compliant advertising activities. CMS plans to release quickly a suggested guideline that will help with oversight for Medicare Advantage strategies as well as Part D prescription medication plans.

These are just the initial actions we are requiring to guarantee that Medicare beneficiaries are not being misinformed, misled or defrauded. We are holding strategies accountable for the actions of both used as well as independent representatives selling their items. This includes calling for documented training of marketing agents and also brokers. I want to guarantee you that the large bulk of senior citizens who acquired Medicare Benefit products are pleased with their plans and also the solutions they are getting.

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Thank you, Ms. Block. Before we get to inquiries for you, we would certainly like to listen to from our Ranking Member, Legislator Smith, as well as Legislator Whitehouse. Thank you, Legislator Kohl, for calling this crucial hearing on a very important issue.

We thank you for your indulgence and also your time (Medicare check out this site agent Huntington NY). I desire to make a difference, which I really hope folks who are interested will comprehend.

These points must be directed out. All stakeholders who would love to see this program proceed need to understand that, if left unchecked, this will weaken confidence in the program. Having stated that, I wish to explain my belief that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D are tolerable simply because they are private shipment systems.

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They can function much better. To all that have an interest in the ongoing success of these programs, it comes to each of us independently to do all that we can to deal with the issues as well as to fix them fast. What I important site did when I was Chairman and also currently, as Position Participant-- and also I share the Chairman's problem-- what I started to do in the 109th Congress is to give oversight.

It requires to alter. So we will certainly continue that oversight with the sight, at the very least, from my view, to maintaining and also reinforcing these programs that do so much excellent, assist a lot of people, particularly, in country areas. So any business with an interest in either prescription medications or Medicare Benefit: Jump on top of this as well as jump on top of it fast.

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