[Hilary]

Hi Everyone,

Please keep the glitches that need fixing on the new plan finder coming as well as ideas about work-arounds - CMS is keeping track and responding to all the suggestions.

Also the next SHIP MMA Forum Call is on August 3rd at 3 PM EDT and this topic will again be addressed.

Thanks for the great community sharing.

Hilary

[david.holden@knoxcac.org]

Something worth checking out is to see if you have the most recent version of Foxfire. It's a free download. Doing that helped us a little. It's still a pain, however, to have to drill down through all those screens just to get current profile information.

[lzxian]

It is incredible to me that we are being asked to list our questions, concerns or difficulties with the new Plan Finder. First they change it which increases time of use, number of screens and questions required to be answered, while at the same time decreasing functionality and results. Now they want US to give them tips and pointers on what we think THEY should do about it!

Does anyone at Medicare realize that we are already overwhlemed by the state of the economy, the burgeoning senior population and the number of unemployed persons seeking help with so many difficulties that we do not have time to also do their work for them? They needed to ask first and change later. I,personally, do not have time to sit, figure out and list all the problems encountered or potentially encountered on their ruined Plan Finder.

It takes only a little understanding of why and how we use that tool to realize all the junk which they've added that's not necessary. So far I have repeatedly heard that no one would direct their clients to the site, now. That is exactly opposite of what I assume they thought they were "helping."

[Hilary]

Please see here and make sure to join the CMS SHIP MMA Forum Call todayat 3:00 PM eastern.

[redowney]

We find several problems/puzzlers:

1. Occasionally the site will still time us out. This is a real problem when attempting to assemble a lengthy drug list.

2. Confusion arises when putting in a new state zipcode and information comes up showing plans from another out of state zipcode. The beneficiary apparently used the site prior to the current contact. It takes close inspection and some work to return to the proper plan lists.

3. We have had the experience in comparing drug plans that a part of one plan will come up in Spanish which is a problem especially for counselors and clients who are not fluent in that language. Why does this occur?

[Elyse]

One thing I notced yesterday is that when I put someone in, their drug lists cameup without me having to enter the password and ID. That would indicate to me that in fact personal info AND the drug info is now linked in the database. I thought that was espressly not to happen. It can be good as it saves the info even though I didn't put it in, and it can be bad because it is linked.

The other thing I cannot tolerate is seeing the column headings under each individual plan name. I cn figure out what the column is even if it means having to look up once in a while. For me it is a waste of screen space and removes what little comparison visiability there is now.

I do agreethat it is incredulous that we are being asked for comments. I thought we have been doing that over the last 5 years. I don't beleive any of the comments have been taken into considertion because none of what I see looks like the comments.

[Hilary]

Elyse and Everyone,

Please know that CMS is looking periodically at this conversation thread and taking your comments very much under advisement.

Also, remember to join the CMS SHIP MMA Forum Call at 3 PM eastern today that's another platform to share your thoughts on content and process.

Regards,

Hilary

[mwilkins]

I listened in yesterday (August 3) to the CMS SHIP Conference Call, although I got in a little late I suppose because so many folks were calling in. We all wanted to know if and when they are going to fix the Plan Finder!!

We learned that several problems have been fixed and they assured us that others will be fixed in the August & September releases. I believe I understood them to say that “partial year costs” will be added and some printing problems solved--which were two major issues. So maybe we only need to endure 3 months of frustration and reduced capacity to assist Medicare beneficiaries!!

The volunteer counselors are just astounded!! How could they make the comparison of Medicare drug plans even more challenging?? Counselors have to make many, many more clicks and still not get all the information we need—we also get lots & lots of un-needed information. Let’s hope we don’t lose volunteers.

Counselors also have concerns about the printing quality—the print fonts are very small and light and the printed pages are hard to read. We suggested that they take a look at the plan lists, comparison charts, etc. from the old Plan Finder and try to make the new ones as “readable” as those were.

We’re happy they’re fixing the problems—too bad they didn’t have a few folks who use the program daily try out the new software before they dumped it on the entire country.

[equinn]

I enter the Medicare # for a client, and it tells me no information can be found. This person has been on Medicare since 1996, but is covered for his health insurance through his wife. In the previous version, that information would appear. Is there any way this can happen again?

Thanks!

[tfassieux]

Whenever I cannot get a verification of client's Medicare information on plan finder, I call the SHIP Medicare line, or Social Security. Usually there is some change, either the zip code or the client's Medicare info.