HOTLINE HELPS PROFESSIONALS ASSIST PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE PART D

The Medicare Rights Center's "Prescription Drug Helpline forProfessionals" provides guidance to professionals helping olderadults and individuals with disabilities with the Medicare prescriptiondrug benefit—for example, assisting patients with enrolling ina private drug plan and resolving problems with drug coverageonce enrolled in a plan.

"A Medicare drug benefit available through dozens of differentprivate drug plans confounds both people with Medicare and theprofessionals [whom] they turn to for advice," commented RobertM. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a nationalconsumer service organization. "Professionals need help tohelp others with this convoluted program, and our trained counselorsare well-equipped to provide the information and supportthey need."

The helpline team provides free and expert information regardingthe new drug benefit. The Prescription Drug Helpline forProfessionals is available Monday through Friday from 10 ^AM to 6^PM (EST) by calling 877-RxHELP-0 (877-794-3570).