make a case that you could not have been reasonably expected to know Medicare would not cover the service, Medicare will end up paying for it in the specific instance under a provision known as “Limitation on Liability”.

 

If you experience this problem, or any other problem relating to Medicare or supplemental health insurance, I recommend you meet with the fine volunteers at Associated Medicare Patients (AMP).  They are available on Monday from 10 to 4, and on Wednesday from 10 to 2.  They are located in the Pat Buster Medical Building at the Senior Friendship Center on Scenic Drive.

SURVEY REPORT

 

The April Newsletter included a survey, designed to give the Chapter members a chance to have a say in what we do.  We sent out over 250 copies.  So far, we received 8 responses.

 

Three of the responses were thoroughly filled out, and provided us with contact information, so we could clear up anything we did not understand on your survey.  The remainder were returned, but very incompletely done, and contained no contact information.

 

We really do want to accommodate your wishes within the limits of the NARFE mission.  We will try to anticipate what you want, but it would be so much better if you would give us a hint.

 

One relatively common desire was to have more involvement with politics.  To the extent that we lobby our representatives on the NARFE legislative agenda, we can be involved in politics.  However, we believe it is essential that we avoid any hint of partisan politics, as our members represent a diversity of views, and partisanship could prove divisive.  We hope you understand.

MEETING SCHEDULE

 

This is our last meeting until we meet again on the third Thursday of September.  That happens to be September 18th.  Mark your calendars and tell your friends.  We hope to see you all then.

 

E-MAIL & PHONE NUMBER

 

The Chapter’s health depends on our ability to communicate with all of our members.  For this reason, we ask that you provide us with your e-mail address and telephone number. 

Text Box:  RUMOR CONTROL We are not planning to change the place where we meet for lunch. The hotel may or may not make some changes in personnel, but it has no effect on us. We will continue to meet at the Holiday House on the bypass at 11AM, lunch at 11:30, the third Thursday of each month, excluding July and August. Anything you hear contrary to that is not correct. MEDICARE STUFF Medicare has just passed a new rule. Starting in 2009, it will not cover the costs of "preventable" conditions, mistakes and infections resulting from a hospital stay. So for instance, if you are on Medicare and you pick up a hospital acquired infection while you are being treated for something that is covered by Medicare, the extra cost of treating the hospital acquired infection will no longer be paid for by Medicare. Instead, the bill will be picked up by the hospital itself since the rules don't allow the hospital to charge it to you. Also, if your hospital or doctor or other health care provider is after you to pay a bill that you thought Medicare was supposed to pay, you may be able to do something about it. The health care provider must advise you ahead of time about services that Medicare will deny, and let you know that you are expected to pay. If you get no such notice, you generally do not have to pay for the denied service. Sometimes neither you nor the provider know, and cannot be reasonably expected to know that Medicare will not pay for a certain service. These cases generally involve denials for lack of medical necessity. If you and/or the provider can Text Box: N A R F E National Active and Retired Federal Employees NEWSLETTER Englewood/Venice Chapter 717 Text Box: JUNE 2008, Issue VI Published Monthly (Except July and August) Text Box: NARFE MEMBERSHIP DOESN’T COST…….IT PAYS

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

President John Burton

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