NWHRC Urges Qualified Americans to Sign Up for Prescription Benefits

The National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) has joined the Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) to help low-income elderly and disabled Americans receive the assistance for which they qualify under the new Medicare prescription benefit.

"There are some 5.5 million low-income Americans, a majority of them women, who can qualify to receive the two-year $600 transitional assistance available through a Medicare-endorsed discount card," said Amy Niles, president and CEO of the NWHRC. "Our goal as part of this coalition is to ensure they receive this benefit and consider enrolling in other public and private prescription assistance programs for which they qualify.

"Women are the Health CEOs for America's families," continued Niles. "We want them to understand how important this program is and to tell their mothers, grandmothers, friends and relatives who might qualify."

Information on the Medicare prescription benefit and other programs to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare participants is available at the Access to Benefits Coalition Web site, www.accesstobenefits.org.

Members of the Coalition include the National Council on the Aging, AARP, Older Women's League, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Administration on Aging (AoA), Social Security Administration (SSA) and other federal agencies; health care organizations and systems; physician, pharmacist, and other health provider groups; state and local governments and community organizations; state health insurance counseling programs; the business community, including media companies, pharmaceutical and pharmacy companies, employers; and private foundations.

About the NWHRC Since the late 1980s, the National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc. (NWHRC) has been dedicated to helping women make informed decisions about their health. NWHRC's services include a wide array of publications, including the National Women's Health Report, and national public education campaigns. Its web site - fmxhosting.com/drupal635 - is a one-stop shop for women's health information on the Internet.

CONTACTS:
Beverly Dame, Director of Communications
National Women's Health Resource Center
888-406-9472
bdame@healthywomen.org