North Charlotte Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting family caregivers and simplifying access to information for Medicare beneficiaries.

According to Senator Tillis, caregivers face unnecessary barriers when trying to coordinate care for their loved ones. He stated, "I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Hassan to enable caregivers to better advocate for their loved ones and make it easier for caregivers to communicate with Medicare on their behalf."

Senator Hassan highlighted the importance of the 1-800-MEDICARE hotline as a resource for seniors and caregivers to obtain information about care options and medical expenses. She said, "This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan measure to ensure that the hotline is providing the best and most efficient support possible for seniors and their family caregivers through increased education, training, outreach, and opportunities for feedback."

The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act has gained endorsements from various organizations, including AARP, ALS Association, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, American Heart Association, Autism Society of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, National Alliance for Caregiving, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Michael Olender, State Director of AARP North Carolina, expressed his support for the legislation, stating, "AARP North Carolina is pleased that Senator Tillis recognizes family caregivers' vital role in our health care system. This legislation will provide a commonsense solution to help make it easier for family caregivers to provide care to their loved ones."

Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, also commended the bill, saying, "AARP is pleased to endorse the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act, legislation to help family caregivers advocate and communicate with Medicare and save them time and frustration when trying to get care for their loved ones."

The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act aims to support family caregivers in several ways. It includes provisions such as helping family caregivers use the 1-800-MEDICARE Hotline to better advocate and care for their loved ones, increasing outreach and education to protect beneficiaries and caregivers from fraudulent practices, and ensuring accurate information sharing to make it easier for beneficiaries and caregivers to navigate the system and stay updated on fraud prevention recommendations.

Additionally, the legislation aims to streamline training for 1-800-MEDICARE operators to provide appropriate resources and information to family caregivers. It also directs the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) to analyze and publicly share recommendations to better educate beneficiaries and improve the timely investigation of fraud reports. Furthermore, the bill establishes opportunities for family caregivers to provide feedback on their experiences and accessing information through 1-800-MEDICARE.

The full text of the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act can be found on the official website.

In summary, Senators Tillis and Hassan have introduced a bipartisan legislation that aims to support family caregivers and simplify access to information for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill has gained endorsements from various organizations and includes provisions to enhance the 1-800-MEDICARE Hotline, increase outreach and education, ensure accurate information sharing, streamline training, and establish opportunities for feedback from family caregivers.