when should you call acentra health?

• 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.

Click on the button below for the phone number for your state. These services are free for people who have Medicare. 

Telephone Numbers

protect yourself from scams with smp

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) teaches you how to spot and avoid Medicare scams.

They can show you what fraud looks like, report billing mistakes, and protect your personal information.

Read more about how to protect yourself from fraud in Section 8 of your Medicare & You 2025 Handbook or visit the Senior Medicare Patrol website at www.smpresource.org. 

You can also learn about SMP by visiting our podcast page (www.acentraqio.com/podcast) and listening to Episode 31 of our Aging Health Matters podcast.

Senior Medicare Patrol also offers help by phone (877-808-2468).

may is older americans month

May is Older Americans Month, a time to highlight resources that support older adults. Visit our web page for helpful links and information you can use and share.

may is mental health awareness month

It's a reminder that it's okay to talk about how you're feeling. If you're feeling down, overwhelmed, or just not like yourself, you're not alone. Help is available. Your mental health matters.

Call the free, private SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) anytime, day or night. It's open to everyone, including people with Medicare.

Mental health services covered by Medicare. Read information in Section 2 of your Medicare & You 2025 Handbook or go to www.medicare.gov/coverage and search for mental health services.

Learn more: www.samhsa.gov/mental-health

national women's health week is may 12-18

National Women’s Health Week encourages women, especially older adults, to take simple steps like scheduling screenings, staying active, and talking to a provider about any concerns.

Just a reminder, Medicare covers many preventive services at no cost to you!

Learn more: www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw

don't keep this a secret

Share this newsletter with friends who have Medicare by sharing this link: www.acentraqio.com/ohf/May2025

welcome to our may newsletter!

May brings flowers after April showers, and it presents a good time to focus on your health. As the spring air rolls in and your outdoor activities begin, supporting your health needs is just as vital as during the chilly cold and flu season.

Therefore, we are happy to highlight Older Americans Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Women’s Health Week! Each topic provides great reminders about how to care for your body and mind. This, in turn, increases your quality of life and overall well-being.

INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER

If you have Medicare or are a caregiver to someone who does, this newsletter issue is for you! It contains information about your Medicare rights and how Acentra Health can help when you have questions about your care.

You’ll also find a quick overview of what the Medicare & You 2025 handbook (the Official U.S. Government Medicare Handbook) says about your rights and the free preventive services Medicare covers. Sometimes, these are benefits many people don’t even realize they have!

We encourage you to print this web page and keep it with your Medicare & You handbook so you can find the information later on, if you need it.

If you are new to Medicare or haven’t gotten the handbook, that’s okay! You can view or order a copy of the Medicare & You handbook anytime by visiting www.medicare.gov/medicare-and-you.

Knowing your rights can make a big difference.

what does medicare offer for free?

Did you know there are things you can get from Medicare that won’t cost you anything? It’s true! These free services can help you stay healthy, catch problems early, and make it easier to take care of yourself.

Medicare covers many preventive services at 100% - there is no cost to you. If your doctor accepts Medicare, take the time to undergo these important steps. They are crucial to catch problems early before they become too serious.

Here are some of the most helpful ones to ask your doctor about:

 ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT

Your Annual Wellness Visit is a great chance to check in with your doctor. This visit is not just about what’s happening now, but also about what could affect your health in the future. While it’s not a full physical exam, you shouldn’t skip it.

During this once-a-year visit, you and your doctor will create or update a personal health plan. You’ll talk about things like your medical history, medications, and risks for things such as falls, memory loss, or chronic illness.

This visit is also a chance for you to ask questions and bring up any concerns. When you're open and honest with your doctor, it helps them understand what you need to give you the best care. It’s okay to speak up! You might say:

• “I’ve been feeling more tired lately. Should I be worried?”
• “Can we go over the side effects of my medications?”
• “Is there anything I should be doing to prevent health problems down the road?”

Before your appointment, write down:

• Any health concerns or symptoms you’ve noticed;
• A list of all medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medications (All of your doctors should know all the medicines you are taking.); and
• Questions you want to ask your doctor.

Taking a little time to prepare can help you get the most out of this visit. It’s your time, so use it to talk about what matters most to your health and well-being.

Learn more about Medicare’s Annual Wellness visit:
www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-visit

 SCREENINGS

What are screening tests? Well, doctors use these tests to check for any signs or symptoms of diseases. They can include:

• Colorectal cancer screening (helps find early signs of colon cancer);
• Mammograms (checks for breast cancer); and
• Diabetes screenings (checks your blood sugar, especially if you’re at risk).

And you guessed it! Medicare covers many screening tests. Talk with your doctor about what screenings you should have.

 VACCINES (SHOTS)

Vaccines play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off certain illnesses. Medicare covers these important vaccines at no cost to you. Shots can include an annual flu shot and pneumonia shots.

See the full list of preventive and screenings covered by Medicare by taking a look at Section 2 in your Medicare & You 2025 Handbook or visiting www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services.

You can also search on Medicare’s website for what’s covered under Medicare: www.medicare.gov/coverage or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Medicare Advantage covers all the preventive services required by Medicare. But check with your specific plan to understand how and where to access them, and whether any extra steps (like referrals) are needed.

free help understanding your medicare options

Alas, Medicare can be confusing. There are rules, bills, and choices to make. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Here is a program that can assist for free!

Get One-on-One Help with SHIP

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free help to people with Medicare. A trained counselor can talk with you one-on-one. They can help you:

• Learn what Medicare covers
• Answer questions about your bills or rights
• Understand your Medicare plan and benefits
• Compare plans during open enrollment
• Look at drug coverage options
• Fix billing problems
• Learn about programs that can help with costs

SHIP is free and unbiased. They don’t sell insurance or get paid by insurance companies. You can talk to SHIP counselors by phone or in person.

Find your local SHIP. Visit www.shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675.

you have medicare rights, and you're not alone

If you have Medicare (this includes Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage), you have rights! These rights protect you and help you speak up if something doesn’t feel correct with the care you get from health care providers.

Healthcare providers can include:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Home care agencies
• Doctor offices

Let’s think about an example:

Mrs. Taylor was in the hospital after a fall. On Friday, the staff told her she was ready to go home. Yet, she didn’t feel ready. Instead, she was still in pain and having trouble walking. Her daughter didn’t know what to do. But then, someone told them about a program that could help …

That program is called BFCC-QIO, and it’s here for you.

Acentra Health is the BFCC-QIO (that’s short for Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization) for 29 states.

So, what does that mean for you?

We help people with Medicare:

• Appeal if you think you’re being sent home from the hospital too soon or if Medicare-covered services are ending too soon;
• Report concerns about the quality of their care received; and
• Get support using Immediate Advocacy services when you have a non-urgent medical issue that needs to be taken care of right away.

Our services are free, and our team is here to help you understand your options and protect your rights.

Get help from a trusted, trained team at Acentra Health.

Web links:

Read more about Acentra Health BFCC free services and your Medicare rights in Section 8 of your Medicare & You 2025 Handbook or visit www.medicare.gov/basics/your-medicare-rights.

You can read more about Acentra Health's free services for people who have Medicare on our website (www.acentraqio.com/bene). You can even print out a wallet card with Acentra Health’s phone numbers (www.acentraqio.com/bene/resources).

Publication No. R146810-138-5/2025. This material was prepared by Acentra Health, 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.