Prescribing the Right Information

The new Medicare drug benefit has a major impact on Latinos – but how many know about and understand it?

Medicare implemented its new outpatient prescription drug benefit this year. According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (a private, nonprofit operating foundation focusing on health care issues), there is significant impact on the nearly 3.1 million Latino seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. Therefore, it’s critical to reach out to the Hispanics who rely on Medicare to provide them with accurate, timely, and useful information about the prescription drug benefit.

Why is this outreach so important? Because Hispanics suffer more from some diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, than non-Hispanic whites do. Medicare’s drug benefit can mean the difference in getting the medications needed to manage such chronic conditions. In addition, Hispanics receiving Medicare are far more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have low incomes. About six in 10 Hispanic recipients of Medicare benefits have incomes below 150 percent of poverty, which means they are even more likely to qualify for the additional help they need to pay for their prescriptions – if they know about the benefit and how to apply for it.

There have been concerted efforts to reach the Hispanic population. The White House recently responded vehemently to an article in USA Today that stated in part “While millions of seniors and people with disabilities are signing up and saving money, the program is being used least by those who could benefit most: poor, often minority Medicare beneficiaries.” (Richard Wolf, “Those Most In Need May Miss Drug Benefit Sign-up,” USA Today, 5/9/06) A White House press release dated May 9 states that by April, 70 percent of eligible Hispanics were enrolled in the Medicare Drug Benefit or have retiree drug coverage.

The government has worked with many groups on outreach programs, including the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the Hispanic Business Roundtable, and the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC). The White House claims that over 600 enrollment events have been held in Spanish. These events have been held in conjunction with Medicare’s thousands of Hispanic community grassroots partners and national partners. For more information about the Medicare drug benefit, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare.

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