Perspective               

Provider Payment Hike and QI-1 Extension Authorized

President Bush has signed a $397.4 billion spending bill authorizing increased Medicare reimbursements to providers and, more importantly, an extension of the Qualifying Individual-1 Medicare Savings Program (QI-1).

QI-1 pays the Medicare Part B premium for older and disabled individuals with annual incomes between $10,642 and $11,964, and for couples with incomes between $14,328 and $16,128 (between 120 percent and 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Level).

QI-1 restores $58.70 each month to the Social Security checks of people enrolled in the program, translating to a much-needed savings of over $700 annually. Presently,more than 120,000 older and disabled Americans depend on this assistance to help pay for additional health care expenses such as prescription drugs and supplemental health care coverage.

For information on how to apply for QI-1 or other Medicare Savings Programs, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You can find the number for your SHIP by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or by going to http://hiicap.state.ny.us/home/link08.htm#telephone.

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