*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1993.12.08 : Medicare Books-on-Tape Contact: Ben St. John Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1993 (202) 690-6183 HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced that audiotape recordings of various Medicare publications are available free of charge to Medicare beneficiaries who are permanently or temporarily unable to read standard print. "This is a pilot program aimed at eliminating a barrier to Medicare information for the estimated 350,000 older Americans who, because of visual or physical impairments, cannot use the printed Medicare beneficiary publications," Secretary Shalala explained. "This program is a first for Medicare, and will be considered for expansion in 1994 if it's popular and cost- effective." The recorded publications are the "Medicare Handbook," "Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services," "Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare,," "Medicare Q&A," "Medicare Hospice Benefits," "Medicare and Advanced Directives" and "Medicare Savings for Medicare Beneficiaries." Total listening time is about six hours. Bruce C. Vladeck, administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, which administers the Medicare program, said that 6,000 of the cassette tapes will be distributed through the Medicare hotline and the network of 146 regional and subregional libraries associated with the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Anyone wanting a tape can call the toll-free Medicare hotline at 1-800-638-6833 or contact one of the 146 regional or subregional libraries that serve the blind and physically disabled. Information on the location of the regional and subregional libraries, of which there is at least one in each state, may be obtained by calling 1-800- 424-8567. Special playback equipment is required to play the tape. This equipment may be borrowed from the Library of Congress, which loans the playback equipment to the visually and physically impaired who are registered for its free reading program. Any U.S. citizen or resident who cannot hold a book or read standard print can apply to borrow recorded publications and playback equipment through the program. Registration may be accomplished by contacting any of the 146 regional and subregional libraries or by writing to: Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20542.