A partnership between the N.C. Department of Insurance and High Point University has led to the Department’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) earning a prestigious award.
The Council of State Governments Southern Office, also known as CSG South, presented the North Carolina SHIIP program with its highly sought-after State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR) award during the CSG South 2022 Southern Legislative Conference held in Oklahoma City.
The partnership with the DOI and High Point University’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy is an elective course that teaches pharmacy students geriatric patient management. Students gain valuable knowledge about insurance and acquire experience serving Medicare beneficiaries.
Since its inception in 2018, 86 students have successfully completed the course. Collectively, they counseled 253 consumers during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period and saved consumers $171,714 by finding the best prescription drug coverage at the lowest cost.
SHIIP Deputy Commissioner Melinda Munden and Field Operations Manager Jeanie Schepisi were on hand in Oklahoma City to accept the award for the Department of Insurance.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey congratulated the SHIIP program for the high honor.
“This is a highly coveted and most deserving honor for our SHIIP program,” Commissioner Causey said. “I am so proud of this unique program and of our department for the innovation that leaders across the South recognize. Many thanks to all those who made this honor a reality, especially Melinda and Jeanie for attending and representing NCDOI.”
STAR recognizes creative, impactful, transferable and effective state government solutions. Each year, one exceptional program is selected by a panel of experienced policy professionals as models of innovation and effectiveness in state government in the Southern region. There are 15-member southern states on the conference’s executive committee.
About SHIIP
SHIIP is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance that assists people with Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage and long-term care insurance questions. We also help citizens recognize and prevent Medicare billing errors and possible fraud and abuse through our N.C. Senior Medicare Patrol program.
SHIIP counselors are not licensed insurance agents, and they do not sell, endorse, or oppose any product, plan or company. If you have questions about your specific plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance agent or the insurance company.