September 10th, 2008 - Washington, D.C. - Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, will chair a hearing entitled, “1-800-Medicare: It’s Time For a Check-Up.” Thursday’s hearing, the result of a three-year investigation led by Smith, will look at persistent customer service and operations problems with 1-800-Medicare call centers. The hearing will study findings from Smith’s ongoing investigation and examine what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which operates 1-800-Medicare, has done to correct continuing problems with their call centers.
Smith’s investigation into 1-800-Medicare has uncovered long wait times, disconnected calls and inaccurate information being relayed to callers by 1-800-Medicare, which has severe consequences for beneficiaries struggling to understand Medicare enrollment and policies.
WHAT: Ranking Member Gordon H. Smith will chair a Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing titled,“1-800-Medicare: It’s Time For a Check-Up.”
WHEN: Thursday, September 11 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: 325 Russell Senate Office Building
WHO: Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Naomi Sullivan, Medicare Beneficiary.
Robert Hayes, President and General Counsel, Medicare Rights Center.
Tatiana Fassieux, Chair, Board of Directors, California Health Advocates.
John Hendrick, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG).
John M. Curtis, President and CEO, Vangent, Inc.
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