MedicareCompareUSA and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Launch New Initiative to Assist Medicare Beneficiaries in Health Plan Selection

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Medicare beneficiaries in South Carolina will find selecting a health plan far less complicated this year thanks to a new initiative being launched by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) and MedicareCompareUSA (see also MedicareCompareUSA).

The new toll-free helpline being established will connect callers with licensed agents who can assist in comparing Medicare Supplement, Advantage and Prescription plans and then facilitate enrollment in the plan selected. Through this program it will be easier for Medicare beneficiaries to find a plan that is accepted by any SRHS hospitals and affiliated doctors. For many individuals, doing so will help assure continuity of care and preserve the trusted bond built up over time with their providers.

"The service provided through MedicareCompareUSA will be particularly helpful for the new seniors 'aging into' Medicare every day who are seeking simplicity and clarity in such an important decision," said Paul Butler, senior vice president of population health with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.

Consumers will access these services free of charge through a dedicated link that is on the SRHS system website. The program will also be promoted through digital billboards, social media and printed materials that will be available across the entire health system, including physician offices and SRHS' four local hospitals: Spartanburg Medical Center, Pelham Medical Center, Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care and Union Medical Center.

"Seniors are bombarded with confusing messages from competing health plans and options, especially during the upcoming annual enrollment period when they have the ability to change their health plan selection," said Kerri Lenderman, director of consulting services with MedicareCompareUSA. "MedicareCompareUSA is a one-stop destination for unbiased information so seniors can be confident in the selections they make."

In addition to providing assistance throughout the plan application and enrollment process, agents of MedicareCompareUSA can provide an annual review of an enrollee's Medicare coverage during Medicare's annual election period. This often includes assisting patients affected by Medicare plan network changes that frequently occur on an annual basis. Doing so assures that beneficiaries have the information they need to proactively select a plan that best meets their specific needs, preferences and budget while retaining continuity of care with their trusted providers.

Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7. New plan selections take effect January 1, 2018. About MedicareCompareUSA MedicareCompareUSA helps Medicare beneficiaries select a health plan that is accepted by their existing hospital and doctors, thus assuring continuity of care and preserving the trusted relationships many providers have built up over time with their patients. Not owned or managed by any Medicare insurance company, MedicareCompareUSA's mission is to provide seniors the unbiased information they need while simplifying the enrollment process. With its strong foundation and impressive track record, an increasing number of hospitals and doctors are looking to MedicareCompareUSA as an indispensable part of a proactive patient-communication and population-management strategy. Visit: www.medicarecompareusa.com. About Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) offers a full spectrum of services through four hospitals as well as the Ellen Sagar Nursing Center, 113-bed long-term care skilled nursing facility that offers nursing care and rehabilitation services. SRHS provides unparalleled oncological care through the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute. The multidisciplinary Medical Group of the Carolinas has more than 360 physicians across seven counties in two states. SRHS employs nearly 7,000 associates and offers outpatient surgery centers, a vibrant post-acute division, and a Level I trauma center. Visit: www.spartanburgregional.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171025006173/en/

Keywords for this news article include: Hospital, Managed Care, Health Policy, MedicareCompareUSA, Medicare and Medicaid.

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