A  

ugust 12, 2011 Edition 144

 

A new name for the newsletter will be unveiled next month!

 JUMP TO  Social Security Offices to Close Early Open Enrollment Materials from CMS New Tools to Help Improve Health Care Quality New SEP for Involuntarily Disenrolled SNP Members “Extra Help” Campaign Health Net and Universal American Removed from Sanction CMS Pharmacy Line to be Discontinued NCOA Annual Wellness Visit Webinar The Debt Deal and Medicare New Process for Handling Disability Supplements Promoting Prevention through Promotores The SHINE Spotlight SHINE Events Outside Events  SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE  Social Security Offices to Close Early Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security field offices nationwide will close to the public 30 minutes early each day. For example, a field office that is usually open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will close daily at 3:30 p.m.  

1

Open Enrollment Materials from CMS We have been notified that CMS will be distributing Open Enrollment outreach materials to all SHIPs in September.  Each SHIP will receive 850 posters, 3500 ostcards, and 3500 stickers to be divided among the regional programs.  Templates or these materials are attached. pf New Tools to Help Improve Health Care Quality CMS announced a new tool for patients and caregivers and other enhanced initiatives to empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care, and to help improve the quality of care in America’s hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, and other health care settings.  A press release, which includes links to the various tools, can be found here.  New SEP for Involuntarily Disenrolled SNP Members In the past, Special Needs Plans were allowed to enroll a limited number of beneficiaries who did not meet the “special need” criteria for plan membership under the disproportionate share policy.  As focus shifts towards the special needs populations that these plans were intended to serve, those who do not meet the pecial needs requirement will now be disenrolled from their plan effective January s1, 2012.    These disenrolled beneficiaries are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2011 through February 29, 2012.  Clients that do not elect another plan will revert back to original Medicare and will lose prescription drug coverage!  SNP’s are required to send a letter notifying these members by September 30.  “Extra Help” Campaign CMS is conducting a campaign to publicize changes to the eligibility requirements—life insurance policies are no longer countable resources and income‐in‐kind is also no longer countable.  Beneficiaries who were previously denied “Extra Help” and who may now be eligible based on these changes are urged to re‐apply.  The flyers being distributed by CMS are attached.  Health Net and Universal American Removed from Sanction Health Net and Universal American were removed from sanction on 8/1/11 and 8/5/11, respectively.  The release letters are attached. 

2

 CMS Pharmacy Line to be Discontinued CMS is discontinuing the pharmacy line.  The line is available until September 30, 2011, and there is a message on the IVR now alerting callers to the discontinuation of the line.  On October 1, 2011, a different IVR message will inform callers that the line will no longer be available after October 1st, and that pharmacists should contact 1‐800‐MEDICARE for questions relating to the Medicare program and 

should use the E1 system for all eligibility concerns.  After November 1, 2011, the message will be disconnected.  The pharmacy line was under‐utilized by harmacists, who will still have the same methods of contacting Medicare that they ended to prefer. pt NCBOE Annual Wellness Visit Webinar NCBOE has made available the presentation slides from their recent Annual ellness Visit webinar.  If you were unable to attend the webinar, the presentation 

s attached. Wi MASSHEALTH & THE CONNECTOR New Process for Handling Disability Supplements The University of Massachusetts Disability Evaluation Services (DES) performs disability determinations for MassHealth.  In the past, disability supplements were sent to the MassHealth Enrollment Centers, recorded by MEC staff, and then 

uation.   Effective August 1, 2011, disability upple ctly to DES at the following address: forwarded to DES to perform the eval

ow be sent dires ments should n  Disability Evaluation Services 

2796   P.O. Box 2796   Worcester, MA  01613‐  Phone: 800‐888‐3420  MISCELLANEOUS The Debt Deal and Medicare The Medicare Rights Center has published a brief on the Budget Control Act and possible implications for Medicare beneficiaries.  The brief is attached.  Promoting Prevention through Promotores Some MIPPA grantees are using the promotores model of community‐based health promotion to get the message out and increase benefits access among Latino communities. Promotores are health educators with bilingual fluency in Spanish and English, who can overcome cultural and linguistic barriers to offer trusted, personalized information and assistance.  A brief from CMS, Adapting the Promotores Model for Benefits Access, is attached. 

3

THE SHINE SPOTLIGHT  This feature will take the place of the Counselor of the Month mentioned in last month’s newsletter.  Instead of singling out the efforts of one volunteer when we have such a wealth of worthy counselors, the SHINE Spotlight will be a way for us to all get to know the people who make this program run.  If you have a counselor with an interesting personal story, unusual hobby, or other noteworthy accomplishments, contact Chris Ciano to have him/her featured in an upcoming newsletter.  S HINE EVENTS

♦ ’ Meeting Next SHINE Regiona Directorsl 

♦ September 20, 2011 (Milford) October Trainings:  October 3, 2011 (Northampton COA)  October 4, 2011 (Holiday Inn in Boxborough) 

OUTSIDE EVENTS

♦ NCBOE Webinar:  How to Message Well in a Complex Environment August 25, 26, and 30, 2011 This webinar will share ways to brush up writing and outreach skills, and talk through tips and tools to help you message well. This way, you can get the word out that you are here to help explain Medic re and other benefits.    aRegister here. 

♦ nal Train the Trainer Workshop:  CMS 2011 NatioAugust 30, 2011 –Portsmouth, NH 

 September 1, 2011 

♦ 508 Compliance Conference Call September 13, 2011 Division of SHIP Relations and a representative from the Strategic Marketing 

 introduction to 508 compliance requirements, rces. 

Group will present anformatting, and resouCall‐in info to follow. 

 

4

ATTACHMENTS

♦ d CMS Open Enrollment postcar

♦

♦ CMS Open Enrollment poster 

♦ CMS Open Enrollment sticker 

♦ CMS Extra Help flyer (English) 

♦ ter CMS Extra Help flyer (Spanish) 

 Release let♦

Universal American Sanction

♦ Health Net Sanction Release letter The Debt Deal and Medicare 

♦ Adapting the Promotores Model for Benefits Access    

 

5

CMS Product No. 11572

CMS Product No. 11573

It’s Earlier Now!

ww

w.m

edicare.gov 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-8

77-4

86-2

048

Medicare Open Enrollment

October 15 December 7

through

CMS Product No. 11574

The Debt Deal and Medicare In August 2011, lawmakers in Washington passed the Budget Control Act, a compromise that increases the federal government’s debt limit and reduces the federal budget deficit over time. Known as the debt deal, the Budget Control Act increases the debt limit in increments by at least $2.1 trillion, in exchange for at least that amount in deficit reduction over the next 10 years. Given the complexity of the debt deal, many people with Medicare may find it difficult to determine how they might be affected. Below is an explanation of the deal, including its possible effects on the Medicare program. How does the debt deal affect my Medicare benefits now? The first stage of the debt deal does not immediately cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. In exchange for an initial immediate increase in the debt limit of about $900 billion, the compromise puts caps on both defense and non-defense discretionary spending for the next 10 years. These caps cut funding by over $900 billion dollars. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are funded through mandatory spending and as a result are not subject to these caps. However, some programs that people with Medicare use, such as those that help people afford housing or receive transportation services, could be affected by these cuts. Is Medicare at risk? Yes, Medicare may face cuts during the second stage of the debt deal. In order to increase the debt limit a second time to avoid default, Congress must enact further deficit reduction of $1.2 to $1.5 trillion. To help this process along, the compromise creates a bipartisan committee, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, that will work to find the additional deficit reduction. The bipartisan committee can consider all parts of the federal budget to achieve this, and as a result could recommend changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. What kinds of committee proposals could affect Medicare beneficiaries? Some proposals cut Medicare spending and save the federal government money by increasing costs for people with Medicare, or by limiting access to care. Such policies, which have been under consideration in past negotiations and proposals, include increasing the Medicare eligibility age, increasing Medicare premiums and other costs, and redesigning the Medicare benefit, including by limiting coverage provided by Medicare supplemental insurance. One example of a proposal like this that has been getting a lot of attention is the privatization of the Medicare program by converting Medicare into a voucher system, also known as a defined contribution plan. This proposal, which would double costs that Medicare beneficiaries pay out of their own pockets, was passed as part of the House budget drafted

1

by Representative Paul Ryan. The budget did not pass the Senate, but the committee will include members of Congress who voted for this plan. The committee may also recommend deficit reduction through increased revenues—for example, by ending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. This could prevent deeper cuts in spending that would significantly affect programs like Medicare and the population it serves. The committee process is the only stage of the debt deal that allows lawmakers to directly consider increasing revenues to achieve deficit reduction. Who will be on the committee, and what are their deadlines? As stated above, the bipartisan committee will try to reach a compromise that would further reduce the deficit beyond the $900 billion to $1 trillion achieved in the first stage of the deal. The committee may consider all options to achieve savings. The committee will be made up of 12 members of Congress, with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans from the House of Representatives and the Senate. The committee must hold its first meeting by the middle of September 2011, and vote on a package of recommendations by November 23, 2011. More than half of the committee members must vote for the package of recommendations in order to send legislation to Congress for a vote. If that happens, Congress must vote on the legislation by December 23, 2011. What happens if the committee doesn’t reach a compromise or Congress doesn’t pass the compromise that the committee reaches? If the committee fails to reach a compromise or Congress doesn’t vote to pass the compromise, automatic cuts will take place in 2013. The automatic cuts, sometimes called a sequester, would not affect Medicaid, Social Security or certain other low-income programs. The sequester would not affect Medicare benefits either, but would decrease Medicare provider payments by up to 2 percent. If the full 2 percent cut were to take effect, Medicare provider payments would decrease by about $10 billion in 2013, according the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Some providers claim that these cuts would harm access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. In addition, the sequester would call for discretionary programs to face a second round of cuts amounting to $55 billion annually from 2013 to 2021. Increased revenues are not part of the sequester; all savings would be achieved through spending cuts. If Congress passes a compromise that does not achieve at least $1.2 trillion dollars in deficit reduction, the sequester would take effect to achieve the additional savings needed to reach $1.2 trillion. What other parts of the debt deal could affect Medicare? The debt deal mandates consideration of a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. If such a balanced budget amendment is enacted, Medicare could face deep cuts that may even go beyond those included in the House budget, which would change Medicare into a voucher program. However, a balanced budget amendment is unlikely to pass, because at least two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote for the amendment in order to pass it.

2www.medicarerights.org | www.medicareinteractive.org

Last modified: August 11, 2011

© 2011 Medicare Rights Center

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Medicare 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-22-06 Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 PROGRAM COMPLIANCE AND OVERSIGHT GROUP August 1, 2011 VIA: FEDERAL EXPRESS DELIVERY (818)-676-6703 EMAIL (Jay.M.Gellert@healthnet.com) FASCIMILE (818) 676-6616___________________ Mr. Jay M. Gellert President and Chief Executive Officer Health Net, Inc. 21650 Oxnard Street Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Phone (818) 676-6703 Re: Notice of Release of Intermediate Sanctions (Suspension of Marketing and Enrollment)

For Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug and Standalone Prescription Drug Plan Contracts: H0351, H0562, H5439, H5520, H6815 and S5678______________________

Dear Mr. Gellert: On November 19, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed intermediate sanctions on Health Net, Inc. (Health Net), thereby suspending Health Net’s marketing and enrollment activities for all Health Net Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) and standalone Prescription Drug Program (PDP) contracts. CMS’ decision was based on Health Net’s serious deficiencies in the following operational areas: prescription drug (Part D) formulary and benefit administration, coverage determinations, redeterminations and appeals, and compliance program. On May 5, 2011, CMS received your attestation stating that Health Net’s deficiencies were corrected and not likely to recur. On July 7, 2011 and July 8, 2011, CMS conducted extensive validation exercises at its Baltimore, Maryland headquarters to determine whether Health Net had corrected its deficiencies and whether they were not likely to recur. These exercises included a record and data review and remotely accessing Health Net’s prescription drug claim and coverage determination, appeals and grievances systems. Based on these exercises, as well as additional information and assurances from Health Net, CMS has determined that Health Net has demonstrated sufficient progress in correcting its

Mr. Jay Gellert August 1, 2011 Page 2 of 4 deficiencies to merit lifting the marketing and enrollment sanctions. Therefore, effective immediately, CMS is releasing the sanctions and Health Net may begin marketing to beneficiaries. Additionally, Health Net may begin enrolling beneficiaries with effective dates beginning September 1, 2011. However, because CMS still considers Health Net to be a high-risk sponsor, CMS will continue to closely monitor and oversee Health Net’s operational activities. Health Net will be subject to targeted monitoring, heightened surveillance and oversight. Periodically, CMS will ask Health Net for specific data to provide CMS with an assurance that Health Net has fully addressed its deficiencies. CMS expects Health Net to work directly with its Regional Office Account Manager to provide any information requested by CMS and to ensure appropriate reporting to CMS of any new issues identified by Health Net. Enrollment of Low-Income Subsidy Beneficiaries Although Health Net is being released from the sanctions, CMS remains concerned about Health Net’s capacity to accept the potentially high volume of enrollments associated with CMS auto-enrollment and reassignment processes for low-income subsidy (LIS) enrollees. Notably, in January 2010, CMS determined that Health Net did not have the capacity to properly serve LIS beneficiaries because Health Net failed to adjudicate the appropriate LIS copayments at point of sale. As we stated in our January 7, 2010 letter to Scott Kelly regarding contract S5678, these failures resulted in our considering PDPs offered under that contract not to be “available” to receive autoenrollments. Since that time, Health Net has been unable to demonstrate a sufficient administration of the LIS benefit to prove the problems identified in our January 7, 2010 letter have been resolved. Further, Health Net reported in June 2011that it was not consistently reprocessing retrospective repayments and recoupments associated with members’ LIS status from 2008 to 2011. Health Net’s error affected approximately 125,000 LIS members. Therefore, as a result of these concerns, CMS has determined that Health Net’s prescription drug plan (PDP) will continue to be excluded from the PDPs into which CMS carries out daily auto-enrollments or annual reassignment of LIS-eligible beneficiaries until at least March 1, 2012. This prohibition will remain in place until CMS is able to verify that Health Net has consistently demonstrated an ability to sufficiently administer its LIS benefit to its current enrollees. Thus, until further notice, Health Net will not receive any LIS-eligible individuals from CMS, and should not process enrollments for any LIS-eligible enrollees, unless those individuals affirmatively choose to enroll into a Health Net plan. Although Health Net has assured CMS that its operational deficiencies (noted in the November 19, 2010 letter) have been corrected, CMS will monitor Health Net as it engages in marketing and enrollment for the 2011/2012 plan years before CMS concludes that it can entrust Medicare’s most vulnerable enrollees to Health Net. If Health Net continues to demonstrate to CMS that its deficiencies do not recur, CMS will reevaluate Health Net’s ability to administer the LIS benefit and may revise Health Net’s status at a later date. CMS’ evaluation may include, but is not limited to, Health Net’s ability to meet CMS LIS performance indicators and/or successfully perform during a CMS LIS Readiness Audit.

Mr. Jay Gellert August 1, 2011 Page 3 of 4 Corrective Action Required During the sanction validation activities, CMS found several deficiencies, none of which prevent CMS from releasing Health Net from sanctions, but all of which merit corrective action. CMS will separately issue a notice of these deficiencies and provide an opportunity for your organization to demonstrate to CMS that these deficiencies are corrected. CMS expects Health Net to work directly with its Regional Office Account Manager to provide the information requested and to ensure ultimate correction of these identified deficiencies. Please note that any further failures by Health Net to comply with these or any other CMS requirements may subject Health Net to other applicable remedies available under law, including the imposition of intermediate sanctions, civil money penalties and/or contract termination or non-renewal as described in 42 C.F.R. Parts 422 and 423, Subparts K and O. If you have any questions about this notice, please call or email your designated point of contact within CMS. Sincerely, /s/ Brenda J. Tranchida Director cc: Mr. Jonathan Blum, CMS/CM

Mr. Timothy Love, CMS/CM Ms. Cynthia Tudor, CMS/CM/MDBG Ms. Jennifer Shapiro, CMS/CM/MDBG Ms. Judith Geisler, CMS/CM/MDBG Ms. Danielle Moon, CMS/CM/MCAG Ms. Helaine Fingold, CMS/CM/MCAG Mr. Anthony Culotta, CMS/CM/MEAG Mr. Greg Jones, CMS/OL

Mr. Tony Salters, CMS/OC Mr. James Kerr, CMS/CMHPO Mr. Paul Collura, CMS/CMHPO Mr. John Spiegel, CMS/CPI

Ms. Bella Roytberg, CMS/CMHPO/Region X Ms. Roya Rezai, CMS/CMHPO/Region X Ms. Cathy Smerker, CMS/CMHPO/Region X Ms. Carol Bennett, DHHS/OGC

Ms. Jill Abrams, DHHS/OGC Ms. Janet Nolan, DHHS/OGC

Mr. Jay Gellert August 1, 2011 Page 4 of 4

Ms. Nancy Brown, DHHS/OIG/OCIG Mr. Benjamin Cohen, CMS/OA Ms. Trish Axt, CMS/CM/PCOG Ms. Tawanda Holmes, CMS/CM/PCOG

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Center for Medicare

7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-22-06

Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

PROGRAM COMPLIANCE AND OVERSIGHT GROUP

August 5, 2011

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS DELIVERY

EMAIL (rbarasch@universalamerican.com)

AND FACSIMILE_(914 934-0700)

Mr. Richard Barasch

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Universal American Corp.

Six International Drive

Suite 190

Rye Brook, NY 10573

Phone Number: (914) 934-8700

Re: Notice of Release of Intermediate Sanctions (Suspension of Marketing and Enrollment)

For All Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Contract Numbers: H2775, H2816,

H3333, H3706, H3708, H4506, H53011, H5378, H5421, H5656, H5909

2, H6169, and

H87423

Dear Mr. Barasch:

On November 19, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed

intermediate sanctions on Universal American Corp. (UAC), thereby suspending UAC’s

marketing and enrollment activities for all UAC Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plan

contracts (effective December 5, 2010). CMS’ decision was based on UAC’s longstanding

pattern of prohibited marketing practices targeted to highly vulnerable populations, in violation

of federal law, CMS guidelines, and UAC’s contractual responsibilities to CMS.

On April 12, 2011, CMS received your attestation that UAC’s deficiencies had been corrected

and were not likely to recur. Based on this attestation, CMS began extensive sanction validation

exercises to determine whether UAC had corrected its deficiencies and the deficiencies were not

likely to recur. On July 7, 2011, as part of sanction validation, CMS conducted targeted in-

1 Contract Number H5301 was non-renewed for Contract Year 2011.

2 Contract Number H5909 was non-renewed for Contract Year 2011.

3 Contract Number H8742 is no longer owned by Universal American Corp.

Mr. Richard Barasch

August 5, 2011

Page 2 of 3

person exercises at its Baltimore, Maryland headquarters. The targeted exercises included

remotely accessing UAC’s data systems and records to determine compliance with CMS

requirements.

Based on these exercises, as well as additional information and assurances provided by UAC,

CMS has determined that UAC has demonstrated sufficient progress in correcting its deficiencies

to merit lifting the imposed marketing and enrollment sanctions. Therefore, effective

immediately, CMS is releasing the sanctions and UAC may begin marketing to beneficiaries.

Additionally, UAC may begin enrolling beneficiaries with effective dates beginning September

1, 2011. Because CMS still considers UAC a high-risk sponsor, CMS will be closely monitoring

and overseeing UAC’s activities in all operational areas. UAC will continue to be subject to

targeted monitoring and heightened surveillance and oversight. In addition, CMS will

periodically ask UAC for specific data to provide CMS with assurances that UAC continues to

successfully adhere to CMS’ program requirements. As agreed, UAC senior leadership will

meet with CMS senior leadership in Baltimore within 60 days of the sanction release and

quarterly thereafter for continued monitoring and oversight.

Corrective Action Required

During the sanction validation activities conducted, CMS found several deficiencies, none of

which prevent CMS from releasing UAC from sanction but all of which merit corrective action.

CMS will separately issue a notice of these deficiencies and provide an opportunity for your

organization to demonstrate to CMS that these deficiencies are corrected. CMS expects UAC to

work directly with its Regional Office Account Manager to provide the information requested

and to ensure ultimate correction of these identified deficiencies.

Please note that any future failures by UAC to comply with any CMS requirements may subject

UAC to other applicable remedies available under law, including the imposition of intermediate

sanctions, civil money penalties, and/or contract termination or non-renewal as described in 42

C.F.R. Parts 422 and 423, Subparts K and O. If you have any questions about this notice, please

email or call your designated point of contact within CMS.

Sincerely,

/s/

Michelle G. Turano

Deputy Director

Program Compliance and Oversight Group

cc: Mr. Jonathan Blum, CMS/CM

Mr. Timothy Love, CMS/CM

Ms. Cynthia Tudor, CMS/CM/MDBG

Ms. Jennifer Shapiro, CMS/CM/MDBG

Ms. Judith Geisler, CMS/CM/MDBG

Mr. Richard Barasch

August 5, 2011

Page 3 of 3

Ms. Danielle Moon, CMS/CM/MCAG

Mr. Jerry Mulcahy, CMS/CM/MCAG

Ms. Helaine Fingold, CMS/CM/MCAG

Mr. Anthony Culotta, CMS/CM/MEAG

Mr. Greg Jones, CMS/OL

Mr. Tony Salters, CMS/OC

Mr. James Kerr, CMS/CMHPO

Mr. Paul Collura, CMS/CMHPO

Mr. John Spiegel, CMS/CPI

Ms. Julie Kennedy, CMS/CMHPO/Region VI

Ms. Susan McLaughlin, CMS/CMHPO/Region VI

Ms. Sue Bradshaw, CMS/CMHPO/Region VI

Mr. Marlon Bankston, CMS/CMHPO/Region VI

Ms. Carol Bennett, DHHS/OGC

Ms. Jill Abrams, DHHS/OGC

Ms. Janet Nolan, DHHS/OGC

Ms. Nancy Brown, DHHS/OIG/OCIG

Mr. Benjamin Cohen, CMS/OA

Ms. Trish Axt, CMS/CM/PCOG

Ms. Tawanda Holmes, CMS/CM/PCOG

Adapting the promotores model for benefits access The 2010 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers (MIPPA) grant includes a special focus on prevention and wellness, in conjunction with increasing access to key benefits that help low-income Medicare beneficiaries receive health care. This focus has encouraged many MIPPA grantees to seek partnerships with community-based health promotion programs. The promotores model is one that some MIPPA grantees are using to increase benefits access among Hispanic communities. Trusted bilingual support such as the one provided by the promotores is critical to connect eligible beneficiaries with the agencies that provide personalized enrollment assistance. A brief history of promotores The word “promotores” is the Spanish twist for “promoters” of key topics that will benefit the community’s well-being. The model is based on a Latin American program that facilitates peer education. First used in the U.S. in the 1950-1960s with Navajo Community Health, the World Health Organization launched the model internationally in 1978 as a vehicle for the delivery of basic health care services. From this, community health workers evolved and promotores were specifically used for the Hispanic population. Today, more organizations are using the model to reach out to ethnic enclaves. Promotores are vital in their communities because:

• They serve as links between vulnerable, low-income, and underserved populations and the health and human service organizations that serve them.

• They convey information to their neighbors in a way that others cannot because of cultural or language barriers. Their methods of community contact vary from the informal to formal, from family dinners to organized community events.

• While primarily used for health promotion and education, promotores can be a good fit for promoting benefits that help community members remain healthy and independent.

Local examples Here are a few examples of how MIPPA grantees are using promotores in their benefits outreach and enrollment activities:

• The Bexar County, TX area agency on aging has long looked to promotores for benefits access engagement. The agency is now developing and solidifying a more formal training program for promotores. The promotores visit local establishments and go door-to-door to spread the word and screen persons eligible for benefits. An interesting point from this interaction is that the AAA notes the older Hispanic population likes to communicate orally in Spanish but they want the benefits materials in English.

• In Wisconsin, the Los Abuelitos Hispanic Outreach Project is building partnerships for culturally

competent outreach and assistance through promotores among Spanish speakers in Southeastern Wisconsin. The promotores distribute informational materials that have been translated into Spanish to those who might be eligible for benefits. The state intends to use

lessons learned from its promotores outreach into the Spanish-speaking community to determine if the model is transferable to gain trust and acceptance in the African American and Hmong communities.

Learn more about current MIPPA activities in our latest quarterly report.

Have you successfully used the promotores model in benefits outreach? Tell us about it.