Update: Medicare Rx Benefit
 SAMHSA
is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) on efforts to help Medicare beneficiaries
with mental and substance use disorders make informed
decisions and enroll in the prescription drug coverage
available through Medicare starting January 1, 2006.
(See SAMHSA
News, July/August 2005.)
To do this, SAMHSA and CMS are supporting stakeholder groups and
community-based organizations to perform outreach and educational
activities. Efforts include distribution of printed materials and
resources, informational fairs, presentations at regularly scheduled
conferences, "train-the-trainer" sessions, and development
of Internet referral and decision-making tools.
The four groups funded to provide outreach and education include
the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors,
the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the National
Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Mental Health Association.
In addition, SAMHSA's Web site now features a special section
on the Medicare Modernization Act. The site includes a description
of the Medicare prescription drug coverage, an explanation of enrollment
and significant enrollment dates, and links to other resources.
For more information, visit www.samhsa.gov/MMA/index.aspx.
A Drug Plan Finder tool is available on the CMS Web site at www.medicare.gov.
For those without Internet access, call Medicare's hotline at 1-800-633-4227. 
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