MEDICARE CORNER
WHO YA GONNA CALL?
BY FELICE HANNAH
NEW YORK STATE
SHIP -STATE HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM:
SHIP offers Free and confidential
personalized Medicare
counseling
(800) 701-0501 or dial 311 and
ask for Medicare Counseling
BENEFICIARY AND FAMILY CENTERED CARE
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION
Complaints about quality of care
and filing an appeal
(866) 815-5440 • TTY: (866)
868-2289
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
SERVICES REGIONAL OFFICES
Information on local seminars
and health fairs on Medicare
health plan choices, or to report a
complaint directly to Medicare
Toll Free: (877) 449-5661 • Local:
(212) 616-2222
ESRD -END STAGE RENAL DISEASE
NETWORKS
Where to submit a complaint
about quality of care received
from a kidney dialysis center
Toll Free: (800) 238-3773 • Local:
(516) 209-5578
ESRD STATE SURVEY AGENCY
Complaints about quality of care
in dialysis facilities
(800) 804-5447 • Local: (518)
402-1004
HOME HEALTH AGENCY
Home Health Care requiring
skilled nursing and other health
care services received in your
home for treating and injury or
illness
Toll Free: (800) 628-5972 • Local:
(518) 408-1638
MEDICAID-REPORT FRAUD
Report Medicaid fraud and abuse
(877) 873-7283 • Local: (518)
402-1378
Directory of important Medicare
and U.S. Government Contacts
NURSING HOME STATE SURVEY AGENCY
Where to submit a complaint
about quality of life or quality of
care inside a nursing home
(888) 201-4563 • Local: (518)
402-5447
OMBUDSMAN
Obtaining information on nursing
homes or resolving problems
between nursing homes and
residents or their families
(800) 342-9871 • Local: (518)
408-1469
PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION
Locating Federally Qualified
Health Centers. FQHCs provide
assistance in lowering
health costs
Local: (212) 279-9686
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION (QIO)
Local and Community level
projects to improve patient safety
Local: (516) 326-7767 • TTY:
(516) 326-6182
SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL (SMP)
Filing an appeal, complaint and/
or reporting a suspected fraud
(877) 678-4697
STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
MEDIGAP POLICIES information
and filing complaints about
Medigap/Supplemental Policies
Toll Free: (800) 342-3736 • Local:
(212) 480-6400
STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
Health based programs and
services
Toll Free: (866) 881-2809
STATE HOSPICE ORGANIZATION
Locating local Hospice Programs
Toll Free: (800) 860-9808
STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE
Medicaid Information
Toll Free: (800) 541-2831 • Local:
(518) 473-3782
HELPFUL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MEDICARE CONTACTS
General Medicare information,
Part B bills and services and
information about health plans
1-800-MEDICARE (800)
633-4227
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR
ACCREDITATION OF AMBULATORY
SURGICAL FEACILITIES
Finding out if an ambulatory
surgical center is accredited
Toll Free: (888) 545-5222
ACCREDITATION ASSOCIATION FOR
AMBULATORY UGENT CARE HEALTH CARE
Local (847) 853-6060
AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL
SPECIALTIES
Finding out if a doctor is board
certified
Toll Free: (866) 275-2267 • Local;
(312) 436-2600
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
List of patients’ hospital rights
Toll Free: (800) 424-4301 • Local:
(312) 422-3000
AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND
Financial assistance for people
with kidney disease
Toll Free: (800) 638-8299 • Local:
(301) 881-3052
BENEFITS COORDINATION & RECOVERY
CENTER
Medicare Secondary Payer and
who pays first
Toll Free: (855) 798-2627 • TTY:
(855) 797-2627
CENTER FOR HEALTH DISPUTES
RESOLUTION
Local: (585) 425-5210
COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS
Information regarding lab
accreditation
Toll Free: (800) 323-4040 • Local:
(847) 832-7000
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Verify qualifications for military
retiree health care benefits
Local: (703) 571-3343
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Information regarding VA
Medical benefits
Toll Free: (800) 827-1000
DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
MEDICARE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTOR
(DME-MAC)
Locate approved suppliers for
durable medical equipment
Toll Free: (800) 633-4227
FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
Toll Free: 633-427
Information on Part A Bills and
Services, hospital care, skilled
nursing care and reporting fraud.
Carrier: Part B Bills and Services
Toll Free: (800) 633-4227
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT FOR
RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Claims and other issues for
retired federal employees and
their dependents/survivors.
Toll Free: (888) 767-6738 • Local:
(202) 606-1800
TTY: (202) 606-2532 • TTY Toll
Free: (800) 878-5707
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Reporting Fraud
Toll Free: (800) 447-8477 • TTY:
(800) 377-4950 • Local: (202)
619-1343
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (FOR
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BENEFICIARIES
ONLY)
Part B bills and services
Toll Free:(888) 355-9165 • Local:
(877) 288-7600
Benefits, lost RRB Medicare card,
address change and enrolling in
Medicare
Toll Free: (877) 772-5772 • TTY:
(312) 751-4701
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Enroll in Medicare Part A or
Part B, Social Security Benefits,
replace lost Medicare card, report
change of address.
Toll Free: (800) 772-1213
NEXT MONTH: HELPFUL MEDICARE DIRECTORY FOR NST SNOWBIRDS!
24 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ June 2018