"HFMA serves America II" takes off - Healthcare Financial Management Association's 1998 public education project regarding Medicare

Healthcare Financial Management, May, 1998

HFMA's 1998 public education project "HFMA Serves America II: Making Medicare Easier" is on track to match, and perhaps surpass, the success of its award-winning predecessor, "HFMA Serves America: Making Medicare Easier." Last year, about 40 HFMA chapters participated in the campaign by conducting community service programs to help address senior citizens' questions and concerns about Medicare. This year, the project has been expanded to include Medicare recipients' families. HFMA is conducting "HFMA Serves America II" in partnership with the Society of Actuaries Foundation (SOAF).

The project is intended, in part, to offer American families a personal approach to learning about Medicare; provide them with unbiased, factual information about the Medicare program and its future; increase public understanding of how Medicare works and how it affects the American economy; and foster activities that reflect the HFMA 1997-98 Chairman's Theme, "From Opportunity to Action," and SOAF's themes, "Preparing for Tomorrow's Possibilities" and "On the Edge of Change." Thirty-one HFMA chapters already are participating in "HFMA Serves America II" in a variety of ways.

For example, HFMA's Oklahoma Chapter collaborated with Oklahoma State University Extension Service, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Vocational Technical (VoTech) Education Centers, and a number of hospitals to present an interactive video teleconference to 120 attendees at 11 Vo-Tech centers and universities across the state. The teleconference used a panel discussion format to discuss Medicare issues associated with physicians, hospices, billing, home health care, and durable medical equipment and answer questions. "This unique undertaking enabled us to provide participants with the opportunity to question presenters directly from remote sites." says Judy Kay Hanks, FHFMA, CPA, controller, Stillwater Medical Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and coordinator of the Oklahoma Chapter's project. "The Medicare information and the technology were so well received by all participants, and we had so much fun with this project, that we plan to provide a similar teleconference on managed care later this year."

The First Illinois Chapter has assembled a task force to develop resources and materials that HFMA members can use to make presentations in their own organizations. Last year, the chapter offered its members a choice of three presentations, one of which was videotaped and broadcast on a local TV network to thousands of Chicago-area households. This year, the chapter plans to offer three new presentations.

"These programs are a great service to our hospital members and the senior citizens in their communities," notes project coordinator Allwyn J. Baptist, CPA, partner, BDO Seidman LLP, Chicago, Illinois. "We have had wonderful feedback from the attendees, who truly appreciate the information presented and the comprehensive handout material obtained from HCFA and the state health insurance department. Future programs will include an overview of the Medicare Choice option available to senior citizens."

HFMA's Virginia Chapter also is gearing up for its second year of involvement in "Medicare Made Easier." On June 6, the chapter will offer a half-day program that will address the following topics: "What Medicare Covers," "Medicare and Managed Care," and "A Medicare Choice Update." Participants also will have the option to attend an insurance workshop. "Last year's event was an overwhelming success," says Virginia project coordinator Phillip S. Borders, FHFMA, director, internal audit services, MediCorp Health System, Fredericksburg, Virginia. "With the positive feedback we received, we were able to structure this year's event to include recipient's families as well as other care givers."

As part of its contribution to the project, SOAF has published a brochure about the Medicare program, On the Edge of Change: Time for a Medicare Check-Up. HFMA also has published a simple brochure that provides answers to five basic questions about Medicare. Free copies of these brochures can be obtained by calling (800) 684-7190. To receive a national list of upcoming chapter events on "Making Medicare Easier," including contact information to let you know how your organization can become involved in an event being sponsored by an HFMA chapter in your community, call Fax-It at (800) 839-HFMA, and request document 211017.