SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: The Medicare Rx Access Network of California will launch on Thursday, September 22, 2005. The 50+ member organizations in the Medicare Rx Access Network of California represent seniors, patients, people with disabilities and chronic diseases, pharmacists, healthcare providers and businesses. The Medicare Rx Access Network of California was created to share resources, coordinate activities and disseminate information to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers about the new Medicare Part D drug coverage. The network hopes to pre-empt any confusion about the new Medicare prescription drug coverage by making sure information disseminated about the benefit is factual and accurately conveyed. The network will, whenever possible, direct beneficiaries to local resources in neighborhoods and communities where questions can be answered face-to-face or in a phone call with a local counselor. WHEN: Thursday, September 22, 2005 2 p.m. -- Simultaneous NEWS CONFERENCES in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego Interviews available following press conference for all locations WHERE: Sacramento Los Angeles San Diego News Conference News Conference News Conference Los Angeles Area Clairemont West Steps Chamber of Commerce Friendship Bank of America Room Senior Center State Capitol Building 350 South Bixel Street 4425 Bannock Ave. Sacramento, CA 95814 Los Angeles, California San Diego, CA 90017 92117 WHO: Sacramento News Conference Stan Rosenstein, Director of Medi-Cal; Andrea Hayes, Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California; Stewart Ferry, Director of Advocacy, California Neuro Alliance; Joan Stevie, Executive Director, Agency for Hearing; and representing the Access to Care and Treatment (ACT) Alliance. Los Angeles News Conference Susan Howland, Alzheimer’s Association, Los Angeles; Brendan Huffman, Public Policy Manager, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce; Dennis Zine, Los Angeles City Councilmember; Chris Martin, President, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; Neelam Gupta, LA Health Action San Diego News Conference Kendall DePascal, Patient Advocate; Kelly L. Focht, M.S.W., George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers. WHY: More than 4 million people in California are eligible for Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage. About 1.6 million beneficiaries with limited incomes will get extra help and pay little or nothing at all. Detailed information about prescription drug plans for California will become available this October, enrollment begins on November 15, 2005 and coverage begins on January 1, 2005. The Network’s goal is to get accurate information out as quickly and efficiently as possible so that Medicare-eligible Californians and their caregivers are prepared to make informed decisions about the new prescription drug benefit.
Medicare Rx Access Network of California
CONTACT: Cynthia Moore of The Medicare Rx Access Network of California,+1-916-658-0144, or mobile, +1-916-768-8804
