Pharmacists to Help Seniors Apply for Rx Benefits

Independent community pharmacistsacross the country will be helpinglow-income seniors apply for government-subsidized prescription drugbenefits through the new MedicarePart D program, under a partnershipforged between the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)and the National Community PharmacistsAssociation (NCPA).

"This is a great outreach step,"CMSAdministrator Mark McClellan, MD, saidin a meeting with NCPA members wherehe announced the new partnership. It is"natural that, at the place people have topay for their prescriptions, and where wehave the best personal knowledge aboutwhich Medicare beneficiaries really needhelp, that pharmacists are providing thisleadership,"he said.

Mr. Rankin is a freelance medical writer.