Are your patients asking about the new Medicare drug benefit?

The new “Plan D” Medicare prescription drug benefit starts on January 1, 2006 and sign-up starts on November 15, 2005. Patients may already be looking for information. The New York County Medical Society will soon be offering its members a free booklet to give them information about the benefit. The booklet, “The New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: What Should You Tell Your Patients About It?”, reveals:

• Which patients should, and which ones shouldn’t, sign up for Part D
• How the Part D numbers really work
• That penalty everyone is talking about: The myth and the reality
• How to show each patient his options, depending on his individual situation
• And more!

You may request the booklet by e-mailing stucker@nycms.org. Please include your name and address and it will be mailed as soon as it’s completed. Another good physician resource is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medlearn website: www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/drugcoverage.asp.