By Kelley Weiss
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-605665.mp3
Kansas City, MO – National and local health officials will meet in Kansas City for a Medicare Summit that will focus on health prevention and awareness. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.
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The federal Medicare program - which provides health insurance to the elderly and disabled - is touring the country to promote its preventive services.
Mark Gilbert is the regional administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He says that many Medicare beneficiaries do not use services available to them like cancer screenings, immunizations or physical exams.
Mark Gilbert: "We still have a long way to go to in getting everyone to consider and use the services that might save them a lot of cost and have them on the healthier lifestyle path."
Gilbert says that less than half of Medicare recipients get their annual, free flu shot and many people avoid cervical and prostrate cancer screenings. Gilbert says the bi-state health summit in Kansas City will bring together health providers from different communities in Kansas and Missouri to increase access to services and raise awareness.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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