Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Friday, June 13, 1997 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
For questions about Medicare please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
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HHS ANNOUNCES 'COMPUTERS FOR SENIORS' PROGRAM
The Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new "Computers for Seniors" program designed to help give older Americans access to the Internet and help them make better use of Medicare, Medicaid and other HHS programs.
HHS' Health Care Financing Administration will loan more than 500 surplus computers to the project, especially to enable seniors to reach its web site on Medicare and Medicaid. The computers will be located throughout the country in senior centers that are supported through HHS' Administration on Aging.
In addition to providing access to the HCFA web sit (www.hcfa.gov), seniors will be able to reach other relevant sites, including the department's home page (www.hhs.gov), the Administration on Aging (www.aoa.dhhs.gov), the National Institute on Aging (www.nih/nia/), the "healthfinder" site (www.healthfinder.gov) and more.
"HHS is committed to using Internet technology to serve all Americans better," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "Our department-wide web presence now includes some 62 sites, covering the full range of HHS activities and responsibilities. Many of these HHS sites, as well as many web sites outside of HHS, will be of special value to older Americans, and we want to help them use this resource to the fullest."
Through the program, HCFA will provide personal computers and basic Windows and DOS operating software to senior centers throughout the country. Senior centers will be responsible for installing and maintaining the equipment, as well as providing a modem and additional phone lines, if necessary. HCFA is encouraging senior centers to work with their communities to enhance the access and ability of seniors to use the computers.
"HCFA is committed to providing Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with the information they need to understand our programs and make informed health care decisions," HCFA Administrator Bruce C. Vladeck said. "We are excited about putting these computers in the hands of beneficiaries so they can access information on HCFA's web site. The "Computers for Seniors" program will be a valuable asset for beneficiaries." HCFA's web site is updated regularly to provide the latest information on Medicare and Medicaid.
Senior centers must apply for the computers. Copies of the announcement, including application procedures, can be obtained by calling the appropriate HCFA regional office. All applications must be received by July 18. HCFA expects to announce which centers will receive the computers by the end of August.
"We are happy that AoA's regional offices have been assisting HCFA's regional offices to make this project happen. Senior centers are an essential part of AoA's national aging network, and their services and programs are supported by state and area agencies on aging and tribal organizations," said Bill Benson, acting principal deputy assistant secretary for aging. The Administration on Aging supports most of the services and programs provided at approximately 6,400 senior centers across the country through the Older Americans Act.
Contact information on HCFA's regional offices and the states which they serve is listed below. The announcement and application for the computers for seniors program can also be found at HCFA's web site located at www.hcfa.gov.
If your senior Center is/Call this regional office:
- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont/ Roseanne Luvisi, Boston Region 1, (617) 565-1290
- New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rice, or the Virgin Islands/Diane Gennaro Tully, New York Region II, (212) 264-3657
- Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia/Ralph Roebuck, Philadelphia Region III, (215) 596-6832
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee/Judy Weaver, Atlanta Region IV, (404) 331-0125
- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, or Wisconsin/Sharlene Frayer, Chicago Region V, (312) 353-1102
- Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas/David Wright, Dallas Region VI,(214) 767-2628
- Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, or Nebraska/Darcy Jakopchek, Kansas City Region VII, (816) 426-5033
- Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming/Millie Griffin, Denver Region VIII, (303) 844-2121 ext. 390
- Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands/Shirley Bordelon, San Francisco Region IX, (415)744-3613
- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington/Pam Negri, Seattle Region X, (206) 615-2370
