Area Agency On Aging Disctrict 7, Inc. Awarded Funds To Help Local Medicare Beneficiaries Save On Prescription Drugs
Selected By U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Administration on Aging (AoA) to Raise Awareness of Medicare-Approved Discount Card Program and Other Benefits

Rio Grande, Ohio – The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. was awarded funds today to assist Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton area Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes, enroll in the new Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card program and $600 prescription drug credit. This award is part of an unprecedented outreach effort launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with hundreds of organizations all across the nation to help millions of eligible seniors and people with a disability begin saving on their prescription drugs right away.

More than 100 community-based organizations and coalitions representing more than 650 individual organizations will receive a total of approximately $4.0 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration on Aging (AoA). This support will go to help the local organizations educate and enroll seniors and people with a disability about the benefits of the Medicare-approved drug discount card.

“We are committed to helping Medicare beneficiaries in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties in understanding their new choices under Medicare and to enroll in programs that can provide them with significant savings on their prescription drugs,” said Pamela K. Matura, Executive Director.

“We will focus special effort on beneficiaries with limited incomes in our community who may qualify for a $600 credit in both 2004 and 2005 to help pay for prescription drugs and assist them in enrolling in a Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card program of their choice,” said Suzanne Shelpman, Project Director. “We plan on conducting outreach activities over the next few months that involve significant collaboration with the ten Senior Center partnering organizations based throughout the communities of our ten-county district service area.”

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. was selected by CMS and AoA because it is a leading, community-based, non-profit organization serving Medicare beneficiaries, and because it has demonstrated experience in conducting outreach and providing assistance to people with Medicare. “Through our contract with CMS and AoA, we are committed to educating no less than 3527 beneficiaries and caregivers, and assisting no fewer than 881 beneficiaries in understanding the program benefits within the ten-county area,” said Executive Director Matura.

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. identifies the needs of Americans age 60 and over and other frail or at risk individuals, develops plans to enable them to maintain their independence and dignity through a system of in-home and community-based services, and advocates on behalf of all older persons within the AAA7 service area. In addition to the assistance provided by the Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. and the Senior Center partners, Medicare beneficiaries can visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for help with their Medicare questions including information on the Medicare-approved drug discount card program.

For more information about our local efforts, call 1-800-582-7277.