Improving the lives of older Americans Using Technology to Screen and Enroll People in Benefits: An Overview of BenefitsCheckUp Marlene Schneider AIRS Conference May 24, 2010
Mar 27, 2015
Improving the lives of older Americans
Using Technology to Screen and Enroll People in Benefits:
An Overview of BenefitsCheckUpMarlene Schneider
AIRS ConferenceMay 24, 2010
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization 2
Agenda Introduction to the National Council on Aging
Overview of the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment
Key Features of BenefitsCheckUp
BenefitsCheckUp Enhancements
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
National Council on Aging
NCOA’s Mission
Who We Are NCOA is a non-profit service and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC.
NCOA Core Values
Social and Economic
Justice
Respect and Caring
Innovation
Integrity and Excellence
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
National Council on Aging
What We Do• NCOA is a national voice for older adults – especially
those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged -- and the community organizations that serve them.
• NCOA brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults.
• NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors live independently, find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment -- Mission
Increase access to benefits for seniors and younger adults with disabilities by:
• providing tools and resources• generating and disseminating knowledge about best practices and cost-
effective strategies for benefits outreach and enrollment
Focus is on several public benefits that are critical to Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes and resources
• Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) • Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) • Medicaid • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps • Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) • State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAP)
Our emphasis is on person-centered strategies – once you’ve found someone, helping them to apply for ALL of the benefits for which they are eligible.
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
About the Center Training and technical assistance on effective outreach,
screening, enrollment, and follow-up strategies
Clearinghouse on best practices and cost-effective methods for finding and enrolling people in benefits outreach and enrollment
Web-based screening and enrollment tools (www.BenefitsCheckUp.org)
Data aggregation and analysis
Fund and support Benefits Enrollment Centers
Provide technical assistance and support to grantees that have received Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grants
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
Technology is not Your Enemy!
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization 8
BenefitsCheckUp is a web-based tool that screens seniors for over 2,000 Federal, State, City and private benefits
Includes over 50,000 offices nationwide where those eligible for benefits can apply
BenefitsCheckUp
www.BenefitsCheckUp.org
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization 9
Benefits Screening Tools: Screening questionnaires to help people learn about which government or private programs they may be eligible for to help pay for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other needs, based on their individual situation
SNAP Map: Interactive Mapping feature to help consumers and organizations find information and application forms for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) in their state.
Downloadable Application Forms: Application Forms and Fact Sheets for programs included in BenefitsCheckUp for those seeking additional information and/or who are ready to apply for programs
Online Application for Rx Extra Help: Provide consumers and organizations with a user-friendly online LIS application that is electronically submitted to the Social Security Administration, while automatically screening for other key federal and state benefits
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization 10
To date, nearly 2.5 million screenings have been completed using BenefitsCheckUp with a dollar value of benefits of over 8.4 billion
Advocacy Counseling
Education Employment Energy Food Stamps Health Home Repair Home Care
Income Legal Medicaid Medicare Nutrition Information / Assistance Pharmaceutical Programs Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Transportation
BenefitsCheckUp
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization 11
“Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp Enhancements OverviewThe enhanced BenefitsCheckUp has expanded beyond a benefits screening service. Listed below are the key NEW and enhanced features.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Forms Service
Enhanced BenefitsCheckUp Application Forms Center
National Medicaid Office Locator NEW Benefits Enrollment Data Mapping
Tool
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© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp and SNAP
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The New Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Forms Service provides:
important and timely information without performing a screening
easy-to-understand, state specific information about the SNAP program in all states
links to state specific online applications, websites, Information and enrollment hotlines, and multi-program and multi-language application forms
new user-friendly inter-active mapping technology COMING SOON: SNAP online enrollment pilot in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp and SNAP
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The map below showcases the New interactive BenefitsCheckUp mapping technology.
Choose Your State
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms
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The enhanced BenefitsCheckUp Application Forms Center provides quick and easy access to program fact sheets and application forms for thousands of benefits programs.
Application Forms can be completed by: printing and completing by hand; entering information on the screen by using the fillable
applications; and applying online, when program administering agency permits
online enrollments
Key state/city application forms included are: Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, SPAPs, and PAPs
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms
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Choose by Category
The screens below display different views of the Application Forms Center.
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms
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The Application Forms Center provides program descriptions, local offices and program websites. All information is available without performing a screening.
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office LocatorThe New National Medicaid Office Locator quickly finds county Medicaid office(s) to help facilitate Medicaid enrollment. Features include:
New Interactive Map that allows search by county, city/town, or zip code Google Mapping feature
with one click of a button, instant access to maps and directions for all Medicaid offices nationwide Medicaid local office address pre-populates from BenefitsCheckUp into Google Map
All of the above available without performing a screening
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© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office Locator
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Clicking on the state map allows for searches by county, city/town, or zip code
Choose Your State
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office Locator
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Example of the Google mapping feature with data pre-populated from BenefitsCheckUp
Click on county/city or enter your zip
code
Google Mapping
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
Benefits Enrollment Data Map
Sharing the data benefits counselors need to better target their resources and efforts
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
Benefits Data Map- What is it? Our new data-display technology to help your organization maximize its benefits outreach and enrollment efforts.
This tool can help you and your clients:
Functions
Compare Benefits Data
Understand Benefits
Programs
Find Help
Goals: • Improve Targeting• Guide Advocacy• Measure Performance
Inform and Educate:• Eligibility Req.• Important Deadlines
• Enroll in benefits• Understand benefits• Guide consumers
Content:
• Maps• Tables• Graphs
• Program Description
• Phone• Web site
© 2010. National Council on AgingA non-profit service and advocacy organization
Questions/comments?
Contact:[email protected]
Visit us on the Web at: www.BenefitsCheckUp.org