The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that it has formed partnerships with several pharmacies to help inform and educate seniors and others on Medicare about the several new benefits that are made available to them by the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s Health Care Law.
Information on free preventive care, additional prescription drug benefits, and other benefits now available to Medicare beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act will be available from Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club and other partnering pharmacies.
Following is a news release with information about this issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today:
News Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
HHS partners with pharmacies to educate Medicare beneficiaries about new health benefits
Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced partnerships with several pharmacies to help customers learn about new Medicare benefits available to them under the Affordable Care Act – the health care law. These partnerships – with CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Thrifty White, Walmart, and Sam’s Club – will provide Medicare beneficiaries a range of educational materials on newly available preventive services, as well as savings on prescription drug spending in the “donut hole” coverage gap. At a CVS in Jacksonville, Secretary Sebelius discussed the new preventive services and received a free blood pressure reading at the CVS MinuteClinic.
“Our pharmacy partners are helping their customers make informed health care decisions,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These partnerships will help people with Medicare learn more about new preventive services such as mammograms, and the new Annual Wellness visit that are available at no charge for everyone with Medicare.”
Some examples of how pharmacy partners are working to increase awareness of preventive services available under Medicare include the following:
- CVS Caremark is distributing material about new preventive services covered at no cost to beneficiaries at its more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy stores and 600 MinuteClinic locations, through brochures, register receipt messages and online.
- Thrifty White Pharmacy is providing information on preventive services through its 85 locations throughout the Midwest.
- Walgreens is distributing information in nearly 8,000 pharmacies and over 350 Take Care Clinic locations, as well as using in-store announcements and providing this information as part of its Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP.
- HHS is working with Walmart and Sam’s Club to provide healthcare information to their shoppers online.
Other pharmacies or partners can find information on how to work with CMS to educate consumers about the benefits available to them at: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Current-Partnership-Opportunities/index.html
To learn more about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. This announcement is available on the CMS web site at: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp.
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This Announcement is provided as a public service by HelpingYouCare™.
More Information
For more news and information about the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature Health Care Law, and about health care reform, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on VoicesForCare™, including:
- News on Health Care Reform;
- Editorials: What Needs Improvement, With Your Comments;
- Advocacy: Proposals for Reform, With Your Comments;
- Legislation: Pending & Recently Adopted; and
- International Health Care Compare: Information on Health Care & Long-Term Care Solutions in Other Countries.
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