http://craig.senate.gov/press/

For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2004

Join me at the Boise health conference

by Senator Larry Craig

On Tuesday, February 17, senior citizens, medical professionals and others are invited to attend a free health care conference I am sponsoring at the Boise Centre on the Grove. The event, titled "The Road to Better Health Care � Medicare and Beyond" will explore the recent historic changes to Medicare, including the new prescription drug benefit and the health savings accounts for younger workers made available with passage of the new Medicare legislation.

If you have questions about how these changes could impact you, I encourage you to attend.

Speakers at the event will include the CEO of AARP, Bill Novelli, Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina Carbonell, as well as the senior medical advisor to President Bush, Doug Badger, and Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Robert Butler.

A health fair, open to all members of the public, will run concurrently with the health conference. There will be nearly 50 booths to provide a variety of services, including free blood pressure checks, cholesterol screening, hearing tests, health care tips and more. Senior citizens in Idaho should contact their nearest senior center for possible help with transportation to the event.

A complimentary lunch will be provided for those who pre-register. Those who wish to sign up for the health conference, which begins at 9 a.m., can do so on-line at http://craig.senate.gov/health2004 or by calling one of my local offices (Boise -344-0974; Coeur d'Alene 667-6130; Idaho Falls 523-5541; Lewiston 743-0792; Pocatello 236-6817 or Twin Falls 734-6780) or by contacting the Area III Agency on Aging at 1-800-859-0324.

As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am excited to have this nationally significant event be held in the Gem State. I also must say thank you to KTVB Channel 7 for their efforts in promoting the health conference, in addition to the many other Idaho businesses too numerous to thank who are helping to make the health conference possible.

I look forward to seeing you there!

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