Mission of KY Seniors Saving Medicare (KSSM)
In September 2001, KSSM became a part of the MSU Retired and Senior Volunteer Program through a grant from Administration on Aging, with the purpose of educating Medicare beneficiaries, their caregivers, and the general public about how to avoid fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare Insurance program. The means of educating people with Medicare includes the recruitment and training of volunteers to pass on the valuable information and tools, such as the Personal Health Care Journal, to other people with Medicare. In addition to the Project Coordinator at Morehead State University, there were 6 other projects in the state, each of which covered a limited number of counties.
Since this beginning, KSSM has gone through transition and expansion. As of the fall 2005, in addition to serving the counties of Gateway Area, the Morehead Project Coordinator has been upgraded to Assistant State Director and charged with covering 5 Areas (28 counties in Eastern KY), so that KSSM can reach all 120 counties in KY during the next three years.
NEW Development:
One of the major changes impacting people with Medicare is the coming availability of the Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, effective January 2006, which is being brought about by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Thus, KSSM is charged with being part of the education on this broad and complex subject, which has the potential to benefit and/or affect many thousands in the state.
These efforts to reach and educate people with Medicare in all KY counties involve collaboration with multiple agencies:
For information about having a KSSM speaker at a group event,
to receive individual help from a KSSM trained person,
or to learn about the opportunity to volunteer with KSSM,
you are invited to contact Ethel Howard.
Phone 606-783-5125 or (messages only) 866-275-5772.
