National Leaders Mobilize to Help Seniors

First Row (Left to Right): James Whittico, M.D.; Lucille Perez, M.D.; Wellington Webb, Former Denver Mayor; Marie Smith, AARP President; Sandra L. Gadson, M.D., President, National Medical Association; Fran Cooper, Medicare Part D Participant; Delegate Donna Christensen (D-VI); James G. Barnes, DPA, Executive Director, National Medical Association; C.T. Stafford, M.D. were flanked by doctors from across the country.

With less than two months before the deadline to enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug program, the National Medical Association issued a call to action on Capitol Hill to African American leaders encouraging them to assist seniors and people with disabilities with how to get enrolled in the program.

With nearly 43 million individuals eligible for Medicare and an estimated 4.2 million that are African American, few are registering for the new Medicare prescription drug plan. This prompted the NMA\’s call to action which brought more than 30 Black physicians, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Office of Minority Health, AARP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., United Health Group, health and senior advocates, as well as leaders from civic and civil rights organizations.

While enrollment is voluntary, many African American seniors are not
taking advantage of this important health benefit, particularly those
with limited incomes who may qualify for extra help paying for their
prescription drug plans. The enrollment period closes on May 15th. If a
person who qualifies for Medicare Part D does not enroll by the
deadline they will have to pay 100 percent of the costs for their
prescription drugs until open enrollment begins in November. In
addition, they will be penalized one percent for each month they are
not enrolled for the rest of their life — one percent per month more
for the cost of their monthly premiums and prescription drug costs.

“We find ourselves in a difficult position because we didn\’t support
the president\’s Medicare drug plan in its current form, but among those
who have had the most difficulty enrolling in the plan are African
Americans,” said Representative Donna Christen Christensen
(Delegate-Virgin Islands), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Health Braintrust.

Fran Cooper, a 67-year old Medicare beneficiary from Nebraska who
initially disliked the plan attended the event to share her story and
insights on how to reach African American seniors. “You can never make
this work by giving out general information, because this is not a
general plan; it\’s a personal plan,” said Ms. Cooper. “You cannot make
an intelligent decision about anything, unless you are properly
informed,” she added.

Other leaders in attendance included AARP President Marie Smith whose
membership is over 36 million. She emphasized the AARP\’s commitment to
work with their chapters across the country to assist all seniors with
enrolling in this plan. Wellington Webb with United Health Group and
former Mayor of Denver says their organization has been traveling
across the country conducting education and outreach to seniors about
the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. He said, “This is about
people.” Willard C. Hall, Jr., Executive Director of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. stated that they are committed through their
membership and chapters across the country to become educated about the
Medicare Part D program.

Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health
with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the
administration is also partnering with these organizations to conduct
Medicare mobile office tours, town hall meetings and health fairs in
the weeks leading up to the enrollment deadline.