Guide to changes in Medicare for People with Disabilities

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Dear Friend of ASO:

Information on New Web-Based Tool that Helps People with Developmental Disabilities Transition From Medicaid To Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. FYI - please share.

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikPresidentAutism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or impiled.

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New Web-Based Tool Helps People with Developmental Disabilities Transition From Medicaid To Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

In less than three months an estimated half a million people with developmental disabilities will transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage.

Ensuring Continuity of Care for Dual Eligibles: A Guide to Transition From Medicaid to Medicare’s Prescription Drug Coverage is now available at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD. This guide was developed by the Disability Policy Collaboration, a partnership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy and the web tool was developed by TheArcLink Incorporated.

For more than six million dual-eligibles, their Medicaid prescription drug coverage will end as of December 31, 2005 and be replaced on January 1, 2006 by the new Medicare Part D coverage, provided by private prescription drug plans (called PDPs). The new Web-based tool provides answers to many of the complex questions, such as:

* Who is a Dual Eligible? http://www.thedesk.info/PartD/dualEligibles.htm

* Is Medicare prescription drug coverage voluntary? Can a dual eligible decide not to participate in it? http://www.thedesk.info/PartD/prescriptionDrugCoverage.htm

* What are the key differences between Medicaid prescription drug coverage and the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)? http://www.thedesk.info/PartD/differencesFromMedicaid.htm

* What are the key things to think about when choosing a PDP? http://www.thedesk.info/PartD/choosingaPDP.htm.

This Web-tool also has a downloadable PDF copy of the guide, a timeline of key dates, a glossary of terms, and additional resources to guide users. The Disability Policy Collaboration will continue to update the website with additional information about this critical issue.

What you should do: Forward this release to all your constituents and encourage your affiliated organizations to post a link to www.theDesk.info/PartD on their website.