Perspective               

Medicare Agency Gets New Name

The Health Care Financing Administration, the government agency that runs Medicare, has changed its name. The agency is now called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This fall, the agency will conduct a $35 million public information campaign to draw attention to the types of health insurance available to older Americans and people with disabilities. Later this year the agency will expand a toll-free telephone number to answer questions about Medicare to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number, 1-800-MEDICARE, now operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also plans to split the agency into three divisions. One division would focus on the traditional or original fee-for-service Medicare program. The second would focus on Medicare+Choice plans such as HMOs. The third division would focus on Medicaid and other programs for poor children and families.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said, "This is only the beginning. We're going to keep fine-tuning this department so Americans are receiving the highest quality health care possible."

If you have any questions or concerns about the changes in the agency that runs Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE, that's 1-800-633-4227.

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