This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Brian Vastag

JAMA. 2001;286:295.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 148 words of the full text and any section headings.

Responding to surveys that show vast numbers of Medicare patients are confused about their benefits, the newly named Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will expand its slate of public education offerings with phone, Web, and media campaigns.

The $35-million reform will beef up the (800) MEDICARE phone line with additional staff, better training, and 24-hour coverage. The package also includes a librarian Web training program to provide help for beneficiaries using public-access terminals. A media campaign will try to explain the various health care programs with "clear language and clear information."

When President George W. Bush appointed Tommy G. Thompson secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Thompson vowed to reform Medicare and Medicaid, which provide health care for 70 million people in the United States. The education package is part of a larger reorganization of the former Health Care Financing Administration.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?