Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Friday, January 05, 2001 | 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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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY RESIDENT HONORED FOR HELPING INFORM PUBLIC ON MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR KIDNEY DISEASE
A Prince George's County resident has received an award for helping inform Medicare beneficiaries and others with kidney disease, and their families, about Medicare coverage.
Valerie Perkins, who lives in Laurel, received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' outstanding employee award for January from HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala and Robert A. Berenson, M.D., Acting Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). A five-year employee, Perkins works as a health insurance specialist for HCFA, the agency that administers Medicare. Perkins is one of about 2,800 employees in the agency's Baltimore headquarters.
Perkins was honored for updating a Medicare publication for beneficiaries," Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Services," which is available on the Web site www.medicare.gov . This publication informs beneficiaries with permanent kidney failure, in simple terms, about the coverage.
She did her research quickly last year and revised the publication in consultation with the American Association of Kidney Patients, kidney disease patients and their families, health care providers who work with these patients, and HCFA's technical experts on the subject. Perkins emphasized the use of clear wording in the publication, while at the same time ensuring its accuracy.
"Through Valerie's extensive efforts, the agency published this booklet very quickly," Berenson said. "Her work, written in easy-to-understand language, helps seriously ill people obtain the vital treatment they need."
Medicare, which primarily covers the health care of those 65 and older, and people with disabilities, also helps pay for kidney dialysis and transplants for other qualified individuals. Medicare is the nation's largest insurer, providing health insurance coverage for more than 39 million Americans.
Perkins also was a chief writer for several other beneficiary publications, including the Medicare & You handbook for 2001, which was distributed last fall to all beneficiaries. The publication helps bring important information, presented in understandable language, on Medicare benefits available to beneficiaries, including patients with kidney disease. Other information on Medicare benefits is available on Medicare's toll-free phone line 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
"Valerie has personally championed the cause of plain language at HCFA, resulting in the simplification and improvement of many products for Medicare beneficiaries," said Michael McMullan, acting director of HCFA's Center for Beneficiary Services. "Her commitment and expertise are exemplary."
"I believe it’s important to make sure that beneficiaries have the information they need about their health care in simple, easy-to-read language in order to make informed decisions," Perkins said.
A Maryland native, Perkins grew up in Capitol Heights, Md., and graduated from Crossland Senior High School in 1991. She received a bachelor's degree in communications media in 1995 from Bowie State University in Bowie, Md.
