Advocates of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit promised voters a benefit with plenty of choice. They wanted to empower the consumer by providing different options to fit the unique needs of each family. After months of debate, the sales pitch worked, and Congress approved a benefit in 2003 with more choice than anyone was ready to handle. Now seniors are inundated with plan advertisements, health care groups and elected officials are scrambling to provide balanced information on the new benefit, and reporters continue to criticize the benefit's complexity. Only one thing seems clear amidst all this confusion – we have our work cut out for us.

Although I fought hard to defeat this complex legislation which maximizes profits for private companies, I intend to do everything I can to help seniors chose the best available plan. Starting November 15, 2005, anyone eligible for Medicare can register for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. Beneficiaries have until May 15, 2006, to decide on a plan before being penalized for late registration. While it is not mandatory for seniors to sign-up for the new coverage, beneficiaries will lose their prescription drug discount cards on May 15, 2006.

Elected officials and health care groups in Arkansas are already gearing up to help seniors register for the new benefit. The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) has approved fifteen companies to provide stand-alone drug coverage in Arkansas and four companies to provide all Medicare-covered services including the new drug benefit. Seniors can find information on these plans in the "Medicare & You" handbook they received in the mail or by going online to www.Medicare.gov.

To make this process easier, I am holding a series of enrollment fairs throughout the 1^st Congressional District during the week of November 15^th – 21^st, to answer any questions you may have. There will be representatives from the Area Agency on Aging and the Social Security Administration to provide counseling services for individuals who have not decided on a plan. Individuals should bring their Medicare Health Insurance Card, their current prescription medications, their preference of drugstore, and any information on current prescription drug coverage. These events will be on a first-come first-serve basis and will last from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

If you cannot any of these fairs, or have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at 1-800-866-2701. My staff and I will be there every step of the way to help you through this registration process.