Changes to Medicare detailed for seniors

The new benefits will include paying for blood tests and physical exams.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Changes to Medicare passed last year by the U.S. Congress will affect about 2.1 million Pennsylvanians and save the state about $94 million in its own prescription drug program.
Those figures were given out Wednesday at a Medicare Town Hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, at Jameson South.
Hart said she is holding a series of town meetings in her district because there is confusion about what the changes will mean to people.
She contends the biggest accomplishment in the new law is that Medicare will now have a prescription drug benefit. Reimbursements to doctors and hospitals will also improve under the changes, she said.
Robert Zimmerman, regional director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, urged the more than 50 senior citizens attending to call 1-800-Medicare (633-42273) for help understanding the changes. Information is also available at www.medicare.gov, he said.
"It's the same Medicare, except its better. There are more choices and better benefits," Zimmerman said.
Significance
Zimmerman said about 400,000 Pennsylvanians will be eligible for the drug discount program for low-income senior citizens starting in June. It is a transitional program put in place until the new drug benefits go into effect in 2006.
He said about $486 million will come to the state to offset the costs. He added that it will save the state's current drug discount program, Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly or PACE, about $94 million.
"It will make PACE more stable," Zimmerman said.
Federal officials believe that about 167,000 Pennsylvanians will have reduced deductibles under the Medicare changes.
Hart emphasized that the changes also include preventive care including a physical exam when entering the program and paying for blood tests for heart disease and diabetes detection.
She said the preventive care will cost less than hospital care would cost, if medical problems are detected early.
A representative of Lawrence County Challenges-Options on Aging was also present and said her organization is also available to help senior citizens choose providers for the new Medicare drug benefit programs.
The Challenges representative added that senior citizens will get information in the mail. Telephone and door-to-door solicitation is not allowed. All items must also contain the Medicare logo.
cioffi@vindy.com