Health Care Financing Administration, Acquisition and Grants Group, C2-21-15, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD., 21244-1850

A -- HEALTH CARE CHOICES FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES POC Lucille F. Lee, (410) 786-5447 E-MAIL: Health Care Choices for Medicare Beneficiaries, lfusselllee@hcfa.gov. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) intends to award, under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures, on a sole source basis, a firm fixed price award with the SPRY Foundation, 10 G Street, NE, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20002, to manage the development of format, presentation and content for a one hour live television program transmitted via satellite with in-studio capability of receiving questions via phone and fax from down link sites. The focus of the training will be on health plan choices for Medicare beneficiaries and resource information which members of the aging network, including USDA Field Offices and the Social Security Administration District Offices can refer beneficiaries to in order to make health plan choice decisions. HCFA has focused its efforts in communicating consistent, understandable messages and in utilizing information intermediaries which have existing relationships with beneficiaries. This serves to add credibility to our messages by working with beneficiary advocates, to enhance our understanding of beneficiary needs for information through feedback and to deliver consistent, reliable information in a cost effective fashion. The contractor must convene an advisory committee to assist in the planning and development of the teleconference format and content. The committee shall consist as a minimum of representatives from HCFA, AoA, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) and the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP). HCFA proposes to take advantage of a unique opportunity to partner with a highly credible organization that has established linkages to the aging network. The SPRY Foundation (Setting Priorites for Retirement Years) is an affiliate of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. The National Committee is a non-partisan, non-profit grass roots education and advocacy group with over six million members. This makes SPRY an important partner that is a credible source of information to millions of current and potential beneficiaries. SPRY and the National Committee have long standing relationships with the aging network and particularly with AAAs through their grass roots educational efforts. They are particularly well suited to be the lead partner in coordinating with the state and community base aging organizations. SPRY has significant experience in utilizing the satellite video teleconferencing format. They have previously work with HCFA, AoA and other partnering organizations to provide similar information to many of the same participants envisioned for this event. SPRY has a relationship with an independent evaluator, the University of Maryland, to conduct an assessment of the teleconference in its ability to provide consistent, usable training and in performing a subsequent assessment of the utility of information provided to the audience in their communication with beneficiaries. The contractor is uniquely qualified and positioned to provide these services without delay or the gathering of additional resources. It is critical for the training to take place in conjunction with the mailing to all beneficiary households of the Medicare & You 2001 handbook which will provide limited information on health plan choices and their availability. 2000 is the second year in which the full range of health plan comparison information (Medicare Compare, HEDIS and CAHPS) is available to beneficiaries. Information is needed by HCFA to evaluate the training with respect to the quality, consistency and reliability of information provided and a subsequent assessment of the utility of the training in enabling the target audience to assist Medicare beneficiaries. All responsible sources may submit capability statements which shall be considered by the agency, in accordance with the requirements in the synopsis. Posted 06/01/00 (W-SN460422). (0153)

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