,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cdci ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #aa1 #bjbe,mr4 ,tillis 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,cassidy1 ,ms4 ,murkowski1 ,ms4 ,smith1 and ,ms4 ,baldwin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act to provide for outreach and education to ,medicare beneficiaries to simplify access to information for family caregivers through #a-hjj-,,medicare1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,connecting ,caregivers to ,medicare ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,outreach and education to ,medicare beneficiaries to simplify access to information for family caregivers through #a-hjj-,,medicare ,section #ahjd of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;b-#b7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7e7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall provide for such outreach and education activities as are necessary1 including as described in paragraph 7#b71 to inform individuals entitled to benefits under part ,a or enrolled under part ,b and individuals applying for benefits under part ,a or enrolling under part ,b about the option to authorize a family caregiver 7as defined in paragraph 7#h77;,a77 of such an individual to access the personal health information of such individual through the toll-free #a-hjj-,,medicare telephone number maintained by the ,secretary under subsection 7b7 if such individual completes and submits a specified family caregiver information access authorization form 7as defined in paragraph 7#h77;,b77 authorizing such access by such family caregiver to such information4 7#b7 ,the outreach and education activities under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,outreach and education efforts to provide information about the option described in paragraph 7#a7 to individuals described in such paragraph1 to providers of services and suppliers furnishing services to such individuals1 to family caregivers1 and to other appropriate entities specified by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,outreach and education efforts to inform such individuals1 providers of services and suppliers1 family caregivers1 and other appropriate entities of best practices identified pursuant to paragraph 7#d7 to protect such individuals from fraudulent practices described in such paragraph4 7,c7 ,outreach and education efforts to individuals described in paragraph 7#a7 to inform such individuals of all existing reporting mechanisms for suspected ,medicare fraud4 7,d7 ,the inclusion of information about the option described in paragraph 7#a71 and best practices identified pursuant to paragraph 7#d71 in a manner that is prominent1 easily accessible1 and readily understandable-- 7i7 in the notice under subsection 7a72 7ii7 through the ,medicare4gov website or a successor website2 7iii7 through other efforts specifically conducted for individuals enrolled in a ,medicare ,advantage plan under part ,c2 and 7iv7 through other platforms or methods specified by the ,secretary1 such as social media4 7,e7 ,the inclusion1 in a manner that is prominent1 easily accessible1 and readily understandable1 of the specified family caregiver information access authorization form in the notice under subsection 7a71 through-- 7i7 the website described in subparagraph 7,d77ii72 and 7ii7 other efforts described in subparagraph 7,d77iii74 7,f7 ,education efforts to train operators of #a-hjj-,,medicare on providing appropriate resources and information to family caregivers4 7#c7 ,information about the option described in paragraph 7#a7 provided through efforts described in paragraph 7#b7 shall include a notification clarifying that such option is available to all individuals described in paragraph 7#a7 regardless of whether such individuals are enrolled for the original ,medicare fee-for-service option under part ,a or ,b or enrolled in a ,medicare ,advantage plan4 7#d7 ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,office of the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall submit to ,congress and make publicly available best practices to protect individuals described in paragraph 7#a7 against fraud relating to inappropriately accessing or using the personal health information of such individuals1 including best practices for educating beneficiaries on fraud reporting mechanisms1 and recommendations to improve timely agency investigation of beneficiary fraud reports4 ,the ,secretary shall provide for1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate1 separate best practices for individuals described in paragraph 7#a71 family caregivers1 providers of services and suppliers1 and other entities specified by the ,secretary4 7#e7 ,the ,secretary shall provide for opportunities 7such as through surveys7 for family caregivers to provide feedback to the ,secretary on experiences accessing information through #a-hjj-,,medicare and on the outreach and education activities conducted under this subsection4 7#f7 ,the outreach and education activities conducted under this subsection1 and the specified family caregiver information access authorization form1 shall be made available in non-,english languages1 as specified by the ,secretary4 7#g7 ,in conducting the outreach and education activities under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall1 to the greatest extent practicable1 coordinate such activities with activities carried out through ,state health insurance assistance programs or the ,administration for ,community ,living4 7#h7 ,for purposes of this subsection3 7,a7 ,the term family caregiver has the meaning given such term in section #b of the ,recognize1 ,assist1 ,include1 ,support1 and ,engage ,family ,caregivers ,act of #bjag1 and includes such other individuals as specified by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,the term specified family caregiver information access authorization form means the ,,cms-#ajajf form or any successor form4 4