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HHS pushes Medicare-approved drug discount cards on mothers day

This year for Mother's Day, HHS Secretary Thompson urges families to give their mothers who are Medicare beneficiaries the gift of savings on prescription drugs by helping them pursue Medicare-approved drug discount cards.

7 May 2004

AIDS nursing homes to get better Medicare deal

Nursing homes treating patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome—AIDS—will see an increase in their Medicare payment rates this fall, according to Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency that oversees the program.

6 May 2004

Medicare says drug discount program shows savings up to 17 percent for brand name drugs

The first analysis comparing the Medicare-approved drug discount cards with the current prices for prescription medicines shows savings of at least 10 to 17 percent for brand name drugs and far larger savings for generic drugs

6 May 2004

FDA to improve access to health information for Hispanic communities

As part of the celebration for Cinco de Mayo 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH) today strengthened their commitment to work together to improve access to health information, especially to Hispanic communities in the United States.

5 May 2004

ASTRO holds first legislative training program in Washington, D.C.

Members of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., last week for the Society’s inaugural legislative training and advocacy program.

5 May 2004

New Medicare funded health check for indigenous Australians

The Australian Government has introduced a new Medicare funded health check for Indigenous Australians to help prevent and treat chronic illness.

5 May 2004

Study finds problems in medication prescribing for vulnerable older patients

Older patients at risk of decline and death do not receive recommended medication to treat their chronic health problems about half of the time, according to a study issued by researchers from the RAND Corporation and UCLA.

4 May 2004

America’s Health Insurance Plans to provide drug discount cards to Medicare beneficiaries

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), made the following statement regarding HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's announcement today of the start of the prescription drug card program:

3 May 2004

Pharmacy Care Alliance set to begin marketing to Medicare beneficiaries

The Pharmacy Care Alliance today announced that it received approval from Medicare to begin education, outreach and enrollment activities for its Medicare-approved drug discount card on May 3.

3 May 2004

Medicare drug discount cards now available

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that seniors and people with disabilities who receive Medicare can now begin to compare and choose the Medicare-approved drug discount card that best fits their needs in providing savings on their prescription medicines.

3 May 2004

76 percent of Medicare beneficiaries believe the Medicare drug discount cards are a good idea

According to a survey commissioned by the Pharmacy Care Alliance, a large majority-76 percent-of Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage polled believe the Medicare drug discount cards are a good idea and will help them save money.

2 May 2004

University of Washington's physician practice plans have reached a settlement with the federal government

The University of Washington's physician practice plans have reached a settlement with the federal government to resolve issues related to billing documentation provided under federal health care programs.

1 May 2004

Bush on healthcare

The way I like to kind of try to describe health care is, on the research side, we're the best. We're coming up with more innovative ways to save lives and to treat patients.

1 May 2004

Dean of Columbia's dental school has issued a "call to action" on geriatric oral health

America's seniors suffer a disproportionate burden of oral disease while having fewer resources for appropriate care -- and these issues will be exacerbated as the elderly population grows.

1 May 2004

New medicare website shows inaccurate pricing

The new Medicare Web site with comparative prescription drug pricing contains inaccurate, erroneous information, sponsors of drug discount cards said on Friday. Companies offering the cards said the government and its contractor had posted inaccurate data just hours after the web site launch.

1 May 2004

Medicare triples customer phone support

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. today announced that Medicare has more than tripled the number of customer service representatives available through its toll-free information line, 1-800-MEDICARE, which also received a record number of calls on Monday.

28 Apr 2004

Education campaign to inform people with Medicare about the new prescription drug savings

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the beginning of a comprehensive education campaign to inform people with Medicare about the new prescription drug savings available to them through Medicare-approved drug discount cards.

28 Apr 2004

Health Ministers’ meeting in Canberra, health reform

Today in Canberra, Tony Abbott has let slip a historic opportunity for health reform. Today the state and federal health ministers met and had Professor John Dwyer and some of the finest minds in health give them health reform proposals.

25 Apr 2004

New Jersey announces automatic enrollment in new medicare drug discount program

New Jersey will take advantage of a recent decision by the federal government allowing states to automatically enroll low-income beneficiaries in the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program (PAAD) into the new Medicare Drug Discount Card Program.

25 Apr 2004

New steps to prevent drug card fraud

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. today announced efforts that CMS is undertaking to strengthen oversight of the Medicare-approved Discount Drug Card Program.

23 Apr 2004