By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source:
Carolyn Wilken cswilken@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-2202 ext. 303
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For thousands of Florida’s senior citizens, understanding the new Medicare Part D prescription-drug coverage plan could be a little easier – thanks to counseling available through the University of Florida’s extension service.
In 26 counties, seniors can get free, personalized help reviewing their Medicare Part D options from specially trained extension agents, said Carolyn Wilken, an associate professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“The sheer scope of the program can be intimidating for some people, because there are 44 providers to choose from,” said Wilken, co-leader of the project. “We’re delighted to have the chance to help, and we want seniors to know that even if they miss the initial enrollment deadline of May 15, we’ll continue offering counseling throughout the year.”
Medicare Part D is an insurance program that can protect seniors against unexpected prescription drug expenses, according to www.medicare.gov, the official U.S. government Web site for Medicare coverage. Though the initial deadline is May 15, enrollment for low-income seniors will continue without interruption starting May 16; for others, the next open enrollment period is from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, 2006.
On average, seniors could save approximately $1,000 to $2,000 per year on prescription costs by enrolling in Medicare Part D, Wilken said. The exact savings will vary depending on the senior’s situation – that’s where extension agents can help assess the plan’s potential benefits.
“Our agents will consult seniors on their needs, help them use a Web site called the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder to match their needs with appropriate providers, and identify the three least-expensive plans that meet their needs,” she said. “The one thing we can’t do is make the actual decision to select a plan. When seniors finish a consultation we ask them to go home, discuss their options with family, then choose a plan.”
To access online information needed to provide counseling, the UF extension agents will use laptop computers, printers and wireless cellular service provided by the My Medicare Matters campaign, a community-based education program sponsored by the National Council on Aging with support from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
UF counseling is available in the following counties: Alachua, Bay, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Suwannee, Washington.
Seniors in all 67 Florida counties can seek help by contacting the statewide program Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, better known as SHINE. Operated by the state Department of Elder Affairs, SHINE offers Medicare Part D information and can be reached via a toll-free telephone number, (800) 963-5337.
UF’s Cooperative Extension Service is making a special effort to reach seniors who have low incomes, those in rural areas and those who speak Spanish, said Betsy Crisp, a Pasco County family and consumer sciences extension agent in Dade City. To serve the Tampa Bay area’s Hispanic population, Crisp has hired an interpreter who will work with seniors from both Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Another interpreter is working in Miami-Dade County.
Before providing counseling, UF extension agents must complete a six-hour training course developed by a team led by David Angaran, a clinical professor with UF’s College of Pharmacy. Angaran is the college’s primary faculty member responsible for educating other professionals about the Medicare Part D program.
“This is the most extensive Part D training program I’ve been involved with,” Angaran said. “The College of Pharmacy really appreciates the opportunity to reach out to Florida residents on a large scale.”
With input from Wilken, Angaran designed the training course to make it easy for extension agents to handle tasks such as explaining how drug-benefits programs work and recognizing the importance of an accurate medication list. UF pharmacy students Traci Brooks and Lacey Dillard also assisted Angaran.
Several agencies and organizations partnered with UF to make the counseling possible, including SHINE, AARP, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Council on Aging.
Public support of Medicare Part D is important, because better prescription-drug coverage can benefit seniors in several ways, said Wendy Zenker, chief operating officer of the nonprofit National Council on Aging in Washington, D.C.
“For low-income seniors in particular, Medicare Part D offers greater opportunity to afford prescription drugs, which should translate to better health,” she said. “It could also mean some seniors will see a doctor more often, because they’ll be confident they can afford medication that may be prescribed. We look forward to working closely with the UF Cooperative Extension Service and its agents, to reach out to low-income seniors and help them understand and apply for the extra help that is available from the federal government.”
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