AAA7 To Present New Prescription Drug Program at
National Conference

Rio Grande, Ohio - The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. (AAA7) project through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration on Aging for the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program is concluding for 2005 with tremendous success.

Eligible seniors who are Medicare Part A and/or Part B can still apply for a drug discount card that may also provide transitional assistance benefits of $450 for medications if they apply before June 30, 2005. “Some of our Senior Center partners throughout the 10-county district have demonstrated extraordinary enrollment efforts through highly innovative events and activities, notes Suzanne Shelpman, AAA7 Acting Homecare Director.

Focus has now shifted to the new Medicare Part D prescription benefit that will be available January 1, 2006. AAA7 has been selected to test the pilot of the CMS internet site to evaluate the usability of the information by seniors and eligible populations with disabilities.

Pamela K. Matura, AAA7 Executive Director, is confident that the agency will be responsive to the outreach and education needs of the seniors. “Our staff is committed to collaboration with other organizations, such as the Social Security Administration and the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP), to ensure this benefit is accessible to the seniors of our service area.”

This collaboration has already begun with the Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. proposal to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging being accepted for staff to present an intensive half-day session at its annual conference in Seattle, WA this July. “Not only will this provide AAA7 with continued national exposure, but will allow our staff to gain additional knowledge from our colleagues about the new Medicare prescription benefit,” states Matura.