May 13, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: AoA Press Office (202) 401-4541

Since 1965, Medicare has been an important program for millions of seniors and their families. Medicare currently serves 41 million beneficiaries. By 2020, Medicare will serve over 62 million beneficiaries, while spending for it expected to reach $898 billion.

As important as the Medicare program has been, it has been slow to adapt to modern medicine, and seniors have had to obtain supplemental coverage to receive benefits.

Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Administration on Aging will hold two Medicare Town Hall sessions on May 13, 2004. Constantinos I. Miskis, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will join her at the second town meeting at the Mildred & Claude Pepper Senior Center. The sessions will engage seniors in a dialogue about the most immediate changes in the new law, the drug discount card and new prevention benefits. Interview opportunities will follow the meeting.

“Affordable prescription drug coverage through Medicare is one of the most important issues facing our nation’s seniors today,” said Josefina G. Carbonell. “I look forward to discussing this new benefit and answering other Medicare-related questions from seniors in the Miami area.”

WHEN: Thursday, May 13, 2004

WHERE:
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Badia Senior Center
25 Tamiami Boulevard,
Miami, FL

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Mildred & Claude Pepper Senior Center
10000 SW 56th Suite 34
Miami, FL

CONTACT: (202) 401-4541

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging (AoA), works with a nationwide network of organizations and service providers to make support services and resources available to older persons and their caregivers. For more information about the AoA, please contact: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, Washington, D.C. 20201, Phone (202) 401-4541.

AoA Web site: http://www.aoa.gov
Email: aoainfo@aoa.gov

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The AoA is a Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers through the national aging network of state and local agencies on aging, tribal organizations, service providers and volunteers.