Currently, Congress has not authorized and provided funding for Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) low-income outreach and assistance programs, which will significantly hamper State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers that rely on the funding to conduct targeted outreach and assist people in enrolling in the Medicare Savings Program and the Low Income Subsidy (LIS). The Center for Medicare Advocacy has joined with other advocacy organizations to urge inclusion of funding for these outreach and enrollment efforts in the next Congressional funding package. These funds are crucial in aiding poor older adults and people with disabilities afford needed prescription drugs, doctor visits and other essential services. Millions of low-income older adults and people with disabilities who struggle to afford Medicare premiums and cost sharing are still not receiving the extra help they need and for which they are already eligible, but not enrolled.
- National Council on Aging’s Take Action link: https://act.ncoa.org/a/mippa
December 7, 2023 – K. Kertesz