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

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization National Council on Aging NCOAs 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

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A 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 youve found someone, helping them to apply for ALL of the benefits for which they are eligible.

© National Council on Aging A 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 ( 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization Technology is not Your Enemy!

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization 11 Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp Enhancements Overview The 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 12

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp and SNAP 13 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp and SNAP 14 The map below showcases the New interactive BenefitsCheckUp mapping technology. Choose Your State

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms 15 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms 16 Choose by Category The screens below display different views of the Application Forms Center.

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp and Application Forms 17 The Application Forms Center provides program descriptions, local offices and program websites. All information is available without performing a screening.

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office Locator The 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 18

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office Locator 19 Clicking on the state map allows for searches by county, city/town, or zip code Choose Your State

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization BenefitsCheckUp Medicaid Office Locator 20 Example of the Google mapping feature with data pre-populated from BenefitsCheckUp Click on county/city or enter your zip code Google Mapping

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization Benefits Enrollment Data Map Sharing the data benefits counselors need to better target their resources and efforts

© National Council on Aging A 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

© National Council on Aging A non-profit service and advocacy organization Questions/comments? Contact: Visit us on the Web at: