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On the Healthcare Front

Issue #3: May 2022


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when should you call kepro?

  • If you are not ready to be discharged from the hospital.
  • If your Medicare skilled services are ending too soon. Examples of skilled services include things like physical therapy and nursing services.
  • If you have a concern about the quality of care you received.
  • If you have a concern about your medical care that needs to be taken care of right away.

To speak with a representative about Kepro's services, click on the link below for the phone number for your state.

These services are free for people who have Medicare. 

Kepro Telephone Numbers


older americans month

may is older americans month 

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans Month. Every person is unique. And, so is how you age and how you choose to do it. There is no one “right” way. That’s why the theme for Older Americans Month this year is Age My Way.

What can you do in honor of Older Americans Month, you ask?

Take a look at this list to get started:

  • Engagement: Get involved with organizations in your city or town. Ask how you can volunteer.
  • Access: Make home improvements and modifications, use assistive technologies, and customize supports to help you better age in place.
  • Connection: Get out of the house. See what your local senior center or library has for activities.
  • Planning: Think about what you will need and want in the future such as home and community-based services. To read about services available to you in your state, visit our resources page and click on your state.

in this issue:

immediate advocacy

Read an article to learn how Immediate Advocacy services helps people who have Medicare: Getting the information you need to be a good caregiver

about medicare

healthy living

May is Older Americans Month

immediate advocacy services for people who have medicare

If you have Medicare and have a concern about the health care (or related medical services) you had, you can do something about it. You can call Kepro and ask about Immediate Advocacy services. This process can be used to resolve an issue quickly.

Read a story that shows how Immediate Advocacy can help you get the information you need.

sometimes the families of medicare patients need help to get the information that they need to be a good caregiver. 

A Medicare patient’s husband called Kepro with concerns about his wife’s discharge from a skilled nursing facility. He had a care conference with the surgeon, and it was decided that he could take care of his wife with home health services. However, once his wife was home, he had questions. He called Kepro to request help with understanding the plan of care and any options for treatment.

Read the rest of the story to see how Immediate Advocacy helped the patient’s husband get the answers he needed.

If you are on Medicare and are not happy with the care you received or if you need help working through an issue that needs to be taken care of right away, please call Kepro and ask about Immediate Advocacy.

hospital discharge appeals

As someone who has Medicare, you have certain rights. One of these rights is to appeal a hospital discharge if you feel too sick to leave.

The hospital will give you a form called "An Important Message from Medicare." This form tells you how to appeal the discharge. 

If you call Kepro for an appeal, Kepro’s doctor will look at the medical record to see if you should stay in the hospital.

During the appeal,

  • You do not have to leave the hospital.
  • You do not have to pay for the extra days in the hospital while Kepro reviews the medical record.

Learn more.

how to file an appeal

get help paying your medicare premiums

In some cases, Medicare Savings Programs may also pay Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments if you meet certain conditions.

Read about Medicare Savings Programs



Publication No. R146810-241-4/2022. This material was prepared by Kepro, a Medicare Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 


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