title: Medicare beneficiary counseling programs: what are they and do they work?
abstract: Medicare beneficiaries face myriad rules, conditions, and exceptions under the Medicare program. As a result, State Information, Counseling, and Assistance (ICA) programs were established or enhanced with Federal funding as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990. ICA programs utilize a volunteer-based and locally-sponsored support system to deliver free and unbiased counseling on the Medicare program and related health insurance issues. This article discusses the effectiveness of the ICA model. Because the ICA programs serve as a vital link between HCFA and its beneficiaries, information about the programs' success may be useful to HCFA and other policymakers during this era of consumer information.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Research, Inc., Waltham, MA 02154, USA. Imac@her-cher.org.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schnaier
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Garfinkel
mesh_terms: D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003142:Communication; D017046:Cost Savings; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005380:Financing, Government; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007318:Inservice Training; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education