2005 Press Releases
New Medicare Prescription Drug Plan focus of Hospital’s Senior Live & Learn program ROME – “The New Medicare Prescription Card” is the August topic of Rome Memorial Hospital’s monthly Senior Live & Learn program, a free educational outreach program designed for seniors. Rome Memorial Hospital’s Supervising Retail Pharmacist Kathy Brodt, RPH, will present the program to the public on Thursday, August 11th at 12:30 p.m. at the Ava Dorfman Senior Civic Center in Rome. Brodt, who has over 35 years experience as a pharmacist, will give an overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new Medicare Prescription Drug plan known as Medicare Part D. The plan, which goes into effect in January 2006, will offer a variety of choices for prescription drug coverage plan. Among the topics which Brodt will cover are enrollment and eligibility. There will be a question and answer period after the presentation. “Although the plan does not go into effect until the beginning of next year, enrollment will take place from November this year until May 2006,” said Brodt. “There are many nuances – not all medications are covered, not all plans are uniform, and not all discount cards are accepted by all pharmacies. But by clearly understanding the plan and how it works, seniors will be able to maximize its benefits and to make the best choice for their individual situation,” she said. CMS established the plan as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 which gives elderly and disabled people on Medicare access to drug coverage. According to CMS, of the estimated 43.1 million Medicare beneficiaries, 29.3 million are expected to enroll in Part D plans in 2006. Pre-registration is not required to attend the program. | 