Our Staff
Bonnie Burns, Training and Policy Specialist
21 Locke Way
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Phone: 831-438-6677 • Fax: 831-438-2447
E-mail:
Bonnie Burns has more than twenty-five years of experience in Medicare, Medicare supplemental insurance, and long-term care insurance. Ms. Burns has served for several years as a consumer representative on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Ms. Burns actively promotes improved consumer protection in state and federal legislative efforts affecting Medicare supplemental and long term care insurance products. Ms. Burns has extensive experience in the research and development of educational material addressing Medicare and related topics, writing various consumer materials for consumer groups and public agencies in California and other states. Ms. Burns is regarded as a national expert in her field and in addition to her own written materials has been quoted in many national publications and broadcast media outlets. In August 2001, she was awarded the national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “Beneficiary Services Certificate of Merit” for her dedication and excellence.
Marta E. Erismann, Community Outreach Coordinator
5380 Elvas Avenue, Suite 104
Sacramento, CA 95819
Phone: 916-231-5113 • Fax: 916-231-5114
E-mail:
Marta Erismann serves as Community Outreach Coordinator for Northern California, with an emphasis in reaching traditionally under-served communities. In addition to providing support to the activities of the California Medicare Coalition, Marta is a community educator with the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project funded by the Administration on Aging which provides statewide education and training on Medicare fraud and abuse issues.
Marta is bi-lingual in English and Spanish, is a registered Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) volunteer counselor serving Sacramento county and is a member of the Sacramento County Commission on Aging.
Marta has over 20 years experience in community organizing and providing technical assistance and training in affordable, and farm worker housing development. Marta holds an AA in Gerontology and Human Services and an Activity Coordinator Certificate from American River College. She is also a licensed Certified Residential Care Facility Administrator.Anne Gray, Project Coordinator
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
1971 East Fourth Street Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-560-0309 •
Fax: 714-479-0319
E-mail:
Anne Gray began working with the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) in October 1996, and since 1997, has served as Project Coordinator for the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project funded by the federal Administration on Aging which provides statewide education and training on Medicare fraud and abuse issues. In this role, Ms. Gray coordinates training and communication on fraud and abuse issues among the 26 local counseling projects serving California. Anne has participated in several local public television station, closed circuit television in Leisure World, and public access television productions, concerning Medicare fraud and abuse.
Anne Gray is a graduate of the California State University, Fullerton, School of Social Sciences with graduate work in education. In her spare time, Anne is active in the community theater in Orange County.
David Lipschutz, Staff Attorney
3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2860
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 213-381-3670 •
Fax: 213-381-7154
E-mail:
David Lipschutz has been active in policy work surrounding the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in California, focusing, in particular, on its impact on individuals dually-eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal. He has testified before Congress and the state legislature, and is a frequent lecturer and trainer on Medicare issues. Since 2003, Mr. Lipschutz has co-authored a chapter on Medicare in the Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) publication California Elder Law, Resources, Benefits, and Planning. Before joining CHA, he worked as a staff attorney at the Center for Health Care Rights, a non-profit agency that provides direct services to Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles County. Mr. Lipschutz earned his B.A. degree from UC Santa Cruz and his J.D. degree from UC Davis.
Julie Schoen, Project Director
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
1971 East Fourth Street Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-560-0309 •
Fax: 714-479-0319
E-mail:
Julie Schoen is Legal Counsel for the Council on Aging of Orange County, and for over ten years has served as a technical trainer and community educator for the Orange County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). In addition, Ms. Schoen directs the Senior Medicare Patrol Project (SMP) funded by the federal Administration on Aging since 1997 for education and counseling concerning Medicare fraud and abuse in California. Ms. Schoen is a popular speaker in Southern California addressing the rights and protections of Medicare beneficiaries. She serves on various boards and committees concerning issues affecting the elderly.
Elaine Wong Eakin, Project Manager
464 7th St.
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-268-8030 •
Fax: 510-927-2599
E-mail:
Elaine Wong Eakin has served as Project Manager since December 2007 in the Oakland office. Ms. Wong Eakin trains on various topics in Medicare and related health care insurance; develops and revises educational materials; coordinates the California Medicare Coalition in addition to serving as the staff liaison to the California Department of Aging, which oversees the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP); and supports local HICAP offices.
Elaine draws from her experiences as the former Program Manager and Medicare Outreach Specialist in the San Francisco HICAP office. She graduated from Cornell University with a BA in Biology and received her J.D. from Pace Law School.