Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
MARCH 2004 NICA NEWS
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS
Jim Barry
Jim Barry of Loup City is finishing up his winter months in Mission, Texas where he has given presentations to Medicare beneficiaries. On November 6 and November 8, 2003, and January 9, 2004, he spoke on topics of Medicare, Medicare supplement policies, and prescription drug programs. He offered his assistance to those in attendance should they have any Medicare questions.Dorann Bartels
Dorann Bartels, a Kearney SHIIP volunteer, provided a newsletter article on Medicare and the SHIIP program in a November and December newsletter for a local church. On December 15, Dorann gave a presentation to approximately 70 attendees at the Wise n' Well lecture on Medicare Fraud.James Bendorf
James Bendorf, Hastings volunteer from the Midland Area Agency on Aging, provided information on Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug assistance, and the Nebraska SHIIP program on November 7, 2003, at an informational booth in Clay Center, Nebraska.Dolores Brown & Juanita Moore
On November 10, 2003, Dolores Brown and Juanita Moore from Omaha's VIE presented information on Medicare Fraud and Abuse at the Christie Heights Quilter's Club.Sue Chipman
Sue Chipman, SHIIP volunteer employed at the Heritage Senior Center in McCook, Nebraska, submitted newsletter articles for the Senior Center Newspaper. Sue's articles were printed in the October, November, and December 2003 Heritage Senior Center newsletter reaching approximately 200 Medicare beneficiaries each month. Articles written by Sue covered basic Medicare topics.Dorothy Eaton
On December 3, 2003, Dorothy Eaton & Aimee McKim from the Omaha VIE office presented information on Medicare and Nebraska SHIIP at Younkers Senior Day at the Oakview Mall.Barbara Graham
On February 14, SHIIP volunteer Barbara Graham, Senior Center Director in Aurora, provided her assistance at an informational health fair booth in Aurora. Barbara was able to counsel on Medicare, supplement insurance, prescription drug assistance, long-term care insurance and the SHIIP program.Joyce Mack & Bill Hamilton
Joyce Mack & Bill Hamilton kept busy in December and January by volunteering at the Corrigan Senior Center in Omaha. Every Monday, Joyce and Bill were available at an informational booth in the Senior Center to answer questions on Medicare.Dennis Kamprath
Dennis Kamprath, a SHIIP volunteer in Grand Island, provided information on Medicare's Preventive Services on January 30, 2003, at the Wellness Center in the Conestoga Mall.Sunny Kontor
Wilber's SHIIP volunteer, Sunny Kontor from the Saline Eldercare office, kept busy at the end of 2003 providing informational booths and presentations at the Wilber Care Center. In October, Sunny gave a presentation and provided information on Medicare Fraud, bone density testing, and diabetes. In November, Sunny gave a speech at the Center on long-term care, and she finished up the year by giving a presentation and offering information on prescription drug assistance. Sunny was able to reach approximately 150+ beneficiaries through these outreach efforts!Linda Maly
SHIIP volunteer Linda Maly of Weston gave Medicare presentations in Wahoo in October and November 2003. Linda created her own informational brochure to hand out at her presentations that described the assistance she could provide as a SHIIP volunteer. In December, Linda was generous to send Christmas cards to clients with her business card thanking them for their interest in the SHIIP program. Three cheers for Linda and her innovative ways of advertising her Medicare skills.Ruby Martin
Ruby Martin, our SHIIP volunteer from Kearney, is also a member of the Silver Haired Unicameral that watches over Nebraska legislation involving senior citizen issues. In October, television stations KHAS in Hastings and NTV in Kearney interviewed Ruby on the Silver Haired Unicameral Senator's Report pertaining to Medicare. The committee report was presented at the Capital in October and printed in the Omaha World Herald.Jayne Prince
SHIIP volunteer Jayne Prince from Norfolk's Northeast Area Agency on Aging gave presentations on Medicare Fraud and Abuse on November 3 in Wayne and November 4, 2003, in Neligh. In February 2004, Jayne gave presentations in St. Edward, Cedar Rapids, Genoa, and Fullerton. These outreach presentations reached over 150 people. Jayne also recorded a public service announcement in December on Medicare Fraud and Abuse that was televised in Norfolk.Marliss Rockwell
Marliss Rockwell, SHIIP volunteer from Omaha's Methodist Health System, gave a presentation on November 18, 2003, for the 55 PLUS program. Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the Medicare Update Forum to hear information on Medicare, prescription drug assistance, and the Nebraska SHIIP.Becky Romshek
Becky Romshek from David City's LIFE Office, was listed in a September issue of the Banner Press newspaper as a SHIIP volunteer able to assist residents of Butler County with their Medicare questions.Jean Van Mark
Jean, our SHIIP volunteer from the Lexington Grand Generation Center, spoke to approximately 80 people at the center in October. Jean educated the audience on Medicare, Medicare supplement policies and fraud.Cindy Schurr
Cindy Schurr, SHIIP volunteer from the Eustis Senior Center, placed an article in the Eustis Senior Center Newsletter in October on home health care and long-term care. More than 100 beneficiaries in the rural part of Nebraska read this publication. On October 14th, Cindy gave a presentation at the Morning Coffee Club at the center on Medicare and preventive benefits, emphasizing the need for flu shots. But don't think that Cindy stopped there.in November, she did another newsletter column on pneumonia and flu shots and gave a presentation at the Senior Center's noon meal on home health care and long-term care.Betty Stiles
Before Betty Stiles took off on her winter excursion to warmer weather, she spent October 6th and November 3rd, volunteering at the Beatrice Senior Center making herself available for questions on Medicare and the SHIIP program to those beneficiaries needing her assistance.Jim Umshler
Jim Umshler, SHIIP counselor from the Omaha VIE office, provided an informational booth at United Healthcare on December 11, 2003. Jim provided counseling on Medicare, Managed Care, and prescription drug assistance.Dorothy Williamson
On November 15, 2003, SHIIP volunteer Dorothy Williamson from Webster County Senior Services in Red Cloud provided an informational booth at the County Health Fair. Dorothy was able to assist beneficiaries and family members with their Medicare questions. This event was a host to more than 100 people.Understanding Medicare '03
The Omaha VIE office hosted an informational meeting to the public on November 3, 2003. That afternoon, a public meeting was held at the Disabled American Vets Hall intended to educate current and prospective Medicare beneficiaries, and their caregivers, on Medicare benefits and other health insurance. This event was also held in the evening at the city's DC Centre. Both events were well attended by the public. What a great service to provide for those who are searching for answers to their Medicare needs.eporting Requirement must be met by June 30, 2004 As detailed in the last three newsletters, SHIIP has instituted a minimum reporting requirement for volunteers. Each volunteer must submit a minimum of four client contact and/or outreach forms each year to retain his or her active status, continue getting newsletters, manual updates, etc. Volunteers who have not submitted at least four client contact and/or outreach forms between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004 will no longer be considered active volunteers and will be taken off the SHIIP mailing list. Inactive volunteers will also be required to return the green SHIIP manual.
If you have any questions about this requirement or would like help with ideas to increase your outreach efforts, please contact your regional representative. The roll-out of the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card program offers the perfect opportunity to do outreach in your community. The SHIIP program hates losing any volunteers, but the federal grant reporting requirements must be met in order to continue offering quality training to active volunteers.
Ongoing Dedication
The following volunteers are to be congratulated for sending in contact forms documenting counseling efforts with beneficiaries since the last newsletter. SHIIP Volunteers and staff submitted contacts with 502 beneficiaries during the past three months! Way to go!|
Lo'Raine Antonson Cindy Barker Jim Barry Jim Bendorf Rita Brehmer Deidra Carpenter Dorothy Eaton Barb Goosic Morris Gotschall Bill Hamilton Evelyn Humlicek |
Lucy Johnson Ruth Kamino Wayne Kempf Mary Guin Knoll Sunny Kontor Shirley Lake Dorothy Lee Judy Lutz Joyce Mack Jodi Mackin |
Linda Maly Chet McPherson Janis Nason Bill O'Connell Jim O'Donnell Loren Parks Maidie Peters Dee Porter Jayne Prince Pam Roberts Marliss Rockwell |
Becky Romshek Addie Schroeder Betty Schuster Rozella Sidders Jim Umshler Jean Van Mark Gaye Werme Diane White Susan Williams Harley Winchester Phyllis Yoder |