Missouri State Health Insurance Assistance Program

Thank you to the new and returning partners who signed agreements with Missouri SHIP.

Community Partners increase local access to Medicare education and assistance, and are critical to our mission! If you see a partner from your area, click the link and “like” or “follow” them.

New Community Partners:
Spiral Health Systems, Inc https://www.facebook.com/Spiral.homecare
Young at Heart Resources https://www.facebook.com/youngatheartresources

Returning Community Partners:
Lincoln County Council on Aging http://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountyCouncilonAging
Harrison County Health Department, Home Health & Hospice https://www.facebook.com/HCHDBethanyMO

Don’t let a broken bone interrupt your summer plans! Low bone density puts you at risk for broken bones. A bone density screening can tell you if you have low bone density, so you can take action to strengthen your bones and protect against breaks and fractures!

If you are at high risk, your Medicare Wellness and Prevention benefit covers this test every two years. You may be at high risk if you:
· Are a woman at risk for osteoporosis based on your medical history
· Have had an X-ray showing possible osteoporosis, osteopenia, or vertebral fractures (spine fractures)
· Have hypoparathyroidism
· Take or plan to start taking prednisone or other steroid medications
· Are being monitored to see if your osteoporosis medications are working.

Remember, if you’re at high risk this screening is FREE if your doctor takes assignment. “Taking assignment” means your doctor charges the Medicare-approved amount for these services. If you have Medicare Advantage, you may need to see a doctor on your plan’s network.

Questions about your benefits? Need help finding a doctor who is in network or takes assignment? Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 or missouriship.org!

Always great to learn new ways fraud happens.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) covers a wide variety of services a provider may offer to help monitor or assess certain chronic conditions.

SMPs are hearing about RPM claims appearing on Medicare statements, like the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and/or Explanation of Benefits (EOB), where the beneficiary does not believe they received or agreed to the services.

If you see any RPM claims on your Medicare statement that you did not agree to, contact the at 888-515-6565.