Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Tuesday, March 20, 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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HOWARD COUNTY, MD., RESIDENT HONORED FOR WORK WITH MEDICARE PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
A Howard County, Md., resident has received an award for helping set fair Medicare payments for vital medical equipment and supplies used by seniors and the disabled while ensuring that taxpayer money is protected.
Joel Kaiser, who lives in Cooksville, received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' outstanding employee award for March from Michael McMullan, Acting Deputy Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). A 13-year employee, Kaiser works as a health insurance specialist for HCFA, the agency that administers Medicare. Kaiser is one of about 2,800 employees in the agency's Baltimore headquarters.
Kaiser was honored for his outstanding work in establishing and maintaining the Medicare payment system for high-quality medical equipment, devices and supplies. Nationwide, Medicare pays about $6 billion annually for these medical items, including oxygen supplies, hospital beds and accessories, wheelchairs, and surgical dressings.
Medicare pays for medical equipment and supplies based on fee schedules required by law. To meet these legal requirements, Kaiser leads a HCFA team that is converting the remaining medical equipment fees paid under the former system to the new fee schedule.
Medicare is the nation's largest insurer, providing health insurance coverage for more than 39 million Americans over 65, and people with disabilities.
"I feel very fortunate to have been able to use my education and training in public service in such a productive way, and I'm honored to receive this recognition," Kaiser said.
A Waynesboro, Pa., native, Kaiser grew up in Chambersburg, Pa., and graduated in 1982 from Chambersburg Area Senior High School. He received a bachelor's degree in 1986 and a master's degree in public administration in 1988, both from Pennsylvania State University at State College.
