[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 82 (Thursday, June 22, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S6409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NEVADA'S STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Marilyn Wills, the 
director of Nevada's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, for her 
efforts during the implementation of the Medicare drug program in my 
State. I would like to recognize Marilyn for not only her service to 
Nevada's Medicare beneficiaries, but also for her dedication to her 
profession and her contributions to the community.
  As most of us have surely heard from beneficiaries, the enrollment 
period for the new drug program was a time of great stress, confusion, 
and frustration. As seniors, people with disabilities, and their loved 
ones tried to understand the complicated new drug benefit, decide 
whether to sign up, and then find the best drug plan to join, many 
found themselves overwhelmed. And with the May 15 enrollment deadline 
looming, it became increasingly clear that the public needed better 
information and better help using that information.
  I commend Nevada's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or 
SHIP, for heeding this call in my State. Hundreds of SHIP volunteers 
gave their time and energy to counsel their fellow Nevadans about the 
new Medicare drug benefit, as well as other components of Medicare, 
supplemental health insurance, and long-term care. As more Medicare 
beneficiaries, their families, and friends turned to Nevada SHIP for 
one-on-one counseling and assistance, SHIP volunteers were eventually 
responding to over 1,000 phone calls every month. Nevada SHIP also made 
arrangements for homebound seniors and held outreach events for the 
community at large. During one 3-day event alone, over 500 Nevadans 
with Medicare received help from SHIP volunteers. The work of Nevada's 
SHIP volunteers is truly a testament to the value of public service.
  As the director of Nevada's SHIP, Marilyn Wills was at the center of 
its operations. In that role, she was charged with a wide range of 
responsibilities, including overseeing the outreach events, giving 
educational presentations to the public, and training new volunteers. 
Moreover, Marilyn and the SHIP volunteers had to carry out their work 
in an environment that is continually evolving with new, uncertain, or 
changing program rules and details. The manner with which Marilyn 
carried out her responsibilities has earned her high praise from her 
colleagues, as well.
  In one of many glowing stories about Marilyn that has reached my 
desk, one says, ``Marilyn worked tirelessly to ensure that all the 
community groups working on Part D outreach were aware of every event 
and that this was an inclusive effort. She believes in maximizing 
efforts to reach the entire community, but her passion focuses on every 
individual beneficiary and how to help each person get the help they 
need.'' The observer continues to write, ``She made sure her volunteers 
knew this was about people helping people. It was important to her that 
the volunteers and staff feel good about what they were doing, and 
always see how they were truly helping people that needed the 
information, or just the human contact to help them be comfortable in 
understanding all the options.''
  The challenge was to inform the citizens of the State of Nevada about 
the new Medicare drug benefit and to guide them through the enrollment 
process. It is my pleasure to recognize Marilyn Wills and the Nevada 
SHIP volunteers for their success in tackling this challenge. They are 
a credit to all of us working toward the success of the new Medicare 
drug benefit in Nevada.

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