HARRISBURG, Pa., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower today announced that the Department of Aging will sponsor a series of town meetings to educate the public about the new Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card.
“There has been considerable confusion about how this program will work, so we think it is essential to take our message directly to the public,” said Secretary Dowd Eisenhower. “These town meetings will help older consumers to better understand the discount card program, as well as the discount card that Pennsylvania will offer through First Health.”
The town meetings are being coordinated by APPRISE, the Department of Aging’s health insurance counseling service, and the 52 local Area Agencies on Aging across the Commonwealth.
The meetings will be conducted in a wide range of locations across the state, including hotels, senior centers and public libraries. A schedule of meetings may be obtained through the department’s Web site at http://www.aging.state.pa.us/. Click on the “Medicare Prescription Discount Card Information” link under the category, “What’s Going On.” Because the schedule will be updated frequently, consumers are urged to visit the site often to check for new listings.
Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, most Medicare beneficiaries will be able to enroll in Medicare- approved prescription discount cards. Medicare has contracted with private companies and some state pharmacy assistance programs to offer discount cards until a Medicare prescription drug benefit begins in 2006.
The cards will offer discounts of 10 to 20 percent on prescription medications effective June 1. Private firms may charge up to $30 for the cards. Details of Pennsylvania’s free First Health discount card, which will offer a 30 percent discount, will soon be announced.
Consumers seeking additional information about the Medicare drug discount card system should contact APPRISE toll-free at 1-800-783-7067. Consumers also may contact their local Area Agency on Aging or visit Medicare on the Internet at http://www.medicare.gov/.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: The attached list provides details on some meeting locations).
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Medicare Discount Card Town Meetings Unless otherwise noted, meetings are at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. April 27 - Greensburg Mountain View Inn 1001 Village Drive, Greensburg April 29 - Monroeville Al Monzo’s Palace Inn Routes 22 & 48, Monroeville April 30 - State College Days Inn 240 South Pugh Street, State College May 3 - Bethlehem Holiday Inn/Gateway Conference Center 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem May 4 - Exton The Inn at Chester Springs 815 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton May 7 - Washington, PA Holiday Inn Meadowland 340 Racetrack Road, Washington May 10 - Scranton Radisson Lackawanna Station 700 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton May 10 - New Cumberland Holiday Inn Hotel/Conference Center 148 Sheraton Drive, New Cumberland May 13 - Carlisle YWCA of Carlisle 301 G Street, Carlisle May 13 - Bradford Greater Bradford Senior Center 60 Canyons Drive, Bradford May 14 - Lancaster Willow Valley Conference Center 2416 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster May 14 - Philadelphia Philadelphia Corporation on Aging 642 N. Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia (Note: meetings are at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.) May 18 - Erie Avalon Hotel 16 W. 10th Street, Erie May 19 - Philadelphia Philadelphia Regional Library 2228 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia (Note: meetings are at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.) May 20 - Clearfield Days Inn Route 879 and I-80, Clearfield CONTACT: Gary Miller, Pennsylvania Department of Aging, +1-717-783-1549.
Pennsylvania Department of Aging
CONTACT: Gary Miller, Pennsylvania Department of Aging, +1-717-783-1549
