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New program to help seniors weigh Medicare prescription options
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A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose

The Rev. Mearle Griffith wants to be sure seniors understand their options with the new drug benefits program.

July 28, 2005

A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*

If senior citizens want to benefit from the new Medicare program on prescription drugs, they will have to carefully consider their options.

To assist with that process, the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries is introducing a program called “Serving America’s Seniors” in cooperation with the Coalition to Advance Prescription Drug Education (CARxE). The program is open to congregations and social service organizations of all faith traditions.

In 2006, prescription drug benefits, known as Part D, will be added to Medicare. A variety of choices for prescription drug plans will become public Oct. 15 and the enrollment period will be Nov. 15 to May 15, 2006.

The plans will place prescription drugs into a type of insurance program, according to the Rev. Mearle Griffith, project director for “Serving America’s Seniors” and chief executive of the United Methodist Association, based near Dayton, Ohio.

“Many people will not need this simply because they have adequate health insurance,” he pointed out, adding that seniors who will benefit the most are those without adequate health coverage or income.

A national launch for “Serving America’s Seniors” is planned Aug. 18 in Houston. It will include presentations on the educational programs and an explanation of the enrollment “gateway” for seniors and their volunteer advocates.

“Part of the education process deals with the variety of options that they will have,” Griffith explained. “They’re all different, depending on the seniors’ economic situation and the prescription drug regimen that they take.”

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A file photo by Rick L. Houchin

Seniors with sufficient health insurance won't need Part D, while those with inadequate coverage or income will benefit.

The only way to compare the options, he said, “is through computer technology and the Internet.” Because seniors often do not have access to such technology, the “Serving America’s Seniors” Program is looking for volunteers who want to do ministry with seniors and also have computer skills.

“From a pure ministry standpoint, we want to make sure they (seniors) have all the information they need to understand their options,” Griffith added.

While the United Methodist Association will be working with seniors through its network of nearly 400 health and welfare ministries, Griffith is encouraging local congregations to create their own volunteer base for the program to assist seniors in their churches and communities.

By early August, the CARxE Web site, www.carxe.org, will host a training program for volunteers, who simply need to register to have access to an education module and instructions on how to assist seniors with Plan D enrollment.

Using DestinationRx Part-D Professional Gateway software, provided by CARxE, volunteers and health care and social service professionals will be able to help seniors determine eligibility issues, evaluate treatment methods and compare plans and prices.

More information is available at www.carxe.org or by calling the national help center toll free at (866) 394-7700. 

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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Resources

United Methodist Association

Official Medicare site

CARxE