August 2001

Medicare and Medicaid Striving To Be More Doctor-Friendly?

Washington - Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has announced the first wave of efforts to reform and strengthen the services and information available to nearly 70 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and the health-care providers who serve them.

As part of that effort, Thompson unveiled the new name for the federal agency that runs the Medicare and joint federal-state Medicaid programs -- the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration. The new name better reflects the mission of the agency, as well as a renewed commitment to be more responsive to health-care consumers and providers, Thompson said at a recent news conference.

The changes include:

• Naming a contact for each state at CMM’s regional and main offices to help break through any bureaucratic bottlenecks at the agency.

• Selecting senior staff members to serve as primary contacts for beneficiary groups, plans, physicians, providers and suppliers.

• Making the 800-MEDICARE telephone line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, beginning in the fall, so callers can receive comprehensive information about health plan options available in their area.

• Pursuing Medicare contracting reform legislation to reduce the number of private health insurance companies that process claims and provide other administrative services from about 50 today, to fewer than 20 by 2006.

“This is only the beginning -- more changes are on the way,” Thompson said. “We’re going to keep fine-tuning this department so Americans are receiving the highest quality healthcare possible. Our commitment to excellence is unwavering.”

Tom Scully, Medicare & Medicaid administrator, said the reforms will help reduce the confusion often associated with Medicare. The three new business centers being created as part of the reforms are the Center for Beneficiary Choices, the Center for Medicare Management and the Center for Medicaid and State Operations.

Source: CMM and Wire Reports

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