Oct. 8, 2008 – The Virgin Islands State Health Insurance Program is the recipient of a performance award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to a press release from the Office of Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis. VISHIP is a program federally funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and locally administered by the lieutenant governor's office.
Francis said the award recognizes VISHIP's continuing level of service to the Medicare- eligible population. "This is the third year that VISHIP has received a performance award," Francis said. "I am proud of their commitment to offering a stellar level of customer service to our residents."
The awards are meant to recognize outstanding achievements in serving Medicare beneficiaries. "These performance awards recognize SHIPs for their outstanding work in strengthening community health programs and also create incentives to expand the number of people reached through their programs," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems.
The program provides Medicare beneficiaries with counseling and benefits information and also does outreach and public education to eligible segments of the community. The $4,337 award will be used to expand services to Medicare beneficiaries.