| Medicare
Updates
 President George W. Bush signed H. R. 1, the Medicare
Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, at Constitution
Hall in Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2003.
"With this law, we are providing more access to comprehensive exams,
disease screenings, and other preventative care, so that seniors across
this land can live better and healthier lives," said President Bush.
The new Medicare bill, the most substantial reform in Medicare’s
history, is a step toward accomplishing two core goals – providing
overdue prescription drug relief to seniors in need, and strengthening
Medicare’s future. It also includes dramatic improvements in consumer
choice through health savings accounts.
Seniors are getting discount cards aimed at achieving initial drug savings,
and lower income beneficiaries are receiving an immediate credit of $600
to pay for prescriptions. The full program will begin in 2006, offering
a completely voluntary package of drug coverage.
Please select from the following options: Partner Activities
 Community Based Outreach
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is conducting
a nationwide outreach and education campaign to help Medicare
beneficiaries learn about and enroll in the new Medicare-approved
drug discount card and $600 transitional assistance credit program.
As part of this effort, the Administration on Aging (AoA) and
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) through Ogilvy Public Relations awarded $3.9
million to community-based organizations (CBOs) to support
increased outreach, education
and enrollment activities targeting Medicare beneficiaries, especially
low-income beneficiaries in 30 communities across the country
with high concentrations of low-income beneficiaries.
The goals of outreach and education are to:
- Find Medicare beneficiaries who are likely to be eligible
for the Medicare-approved drug discount card and the transitional
assistance program
- Educate them about opportunities to save
money
- Encourage them to seek further assistance
- Help them to collect
the information they will need to get assistance with enrollment
The goals of enrollment assistance are to:
- Assist people to determine for which benefits they want
to apply
- Help them to complete and send in applications for
desired benefits
National Partners
N4a and NASUA
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
and the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA)NASUA
through a supplemental grant from AoA (AoA) under the Eldercare
Locator Program have launched an initiative to assist state
and
local aging agencies in their work to implement the Medicare
Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
(MMA) over the next year.
To assist aging agencies in their efforts to outreach, educate,
and enroll Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare’s new
prescription drug program, n4a and NASUA is:
- conducting training programs to include a series of webinars
- developing and disseminating promotional and technical assistance
materials
- providing on-going technical assistance and best
practice profiles
- Link: http://www.medicarerxoutreach.org/
National Minority Organizations
As part of the National Medicare Outreach Campaign, AoA and
CMS are working in cooperation with National Minority Organizations
to target hard to reach low-income minority elders. The organizations
include:
- Promising/Best Practices (Coming)
- Testimonials (Coming)
Resources
 General Information - Drug Discount Cards
The prescription drug benefit will begin in
2006. As an interim measure, beneficiaries, begin in May 2004,
may purchase prescription drug cards, estimated to provide discount
between 10 to 15% depending on the card. Enrollment in the discount
card program is optional and is open to all beneficiaries who
do not have prescription drug coverage under Medicaid. The card
can cost no more that $30 a year. Additionally, low-income beneficiaries,
those with incomes up to 135% of the federal poverty level, are
eligible for a $600 annual subsidy during the interim period.
Beneficiaries can choose only one card per
year and sponsors can change add or drop coverage of any drug at any time.
The enrollment period began on May 3, 2004.
Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS web site - www.medicare.gov provides
numerous Fact Sheets and information on the new law. In particular,
the site focuses on the drug discount cards, with the links providing both
general and more detailed information on how to choose a card and then
how to enroll in the chosen card program. The Price compare
database offered
on this site enables individuals to determine the best discount card available
to them based on their geographic location (zip code) and the prescriptions
they have. The database is updated weekly.
Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs (PDAP) provides information
on public and private programs that offer discounted or free medication,
programs that provide help with other health care costs, and Medicare health
plans that
include prescription coverage. It also provides information on even more
ways you can reduce your prescription drug costs, such as by using generic
alternatives. Prescription Drug
and Other Assistance Programs (PDAP) provides information
on public and private programs that offer discounted or free
medication, programs that provide help with other health care
costs, and Medicare health plans that include prescription
coverage. It also provides information on even more ways you
can reduce your prescription drug costs, such as by using generic
alternatives.
Medicare-Approved Drug Discount
Card Tip Sheet Provides
general information on what to consider in choosing a prescription
drug discount card.
Guide to Choosing a Medicare-Approved
Drug Discount Card A 36-page
detailed guide with information on how to choose and enroll
in the appropriate prescription drug card program.
Drug Discount Card Enrollment Tip
Sheet
Useful once a beneficiary has chosen a card and wishes to enroll. Also provides
information on what an individual should include as income when determining
eligibility for the low-income subsidy.
Access to Benefits Coalition
The Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC), a public-private partnership led by
the nation’s leading non-profit organizations, is committed to ensuring
that all lower-income Medicare beneficiaries know about and can make the
best use of both public and private prescription drug savings programs.
The ABC Web site, provides
resources for national organizations and their affiliates, state
coalitions, local community organizations, and others who are
working to assist lower-income Medicare beneficiaries in finding
prescription drug savings. The site includes: State Prescription
Drug Savings Guides, an Enrollment Center with forms for State
and Medicare-approved drug card programs, an email alert list
serve, Promising Practices and Tips, and other communication
tools.
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