Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 December 2005 — Page 18

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005

MEDICARE ► Continued from Cl tion Drug Plan, you can apply with the SSA by visiting your local Social Security Office, www.ssa.gov, or calling 1-800-772-1213. • Take an inventory of your medicine cabinet. Write down your prescriptions, dosages and how much you currently pay for them. This step is extremely important because the Medicare-approved plans in Indiana each have different lists of covered medicines. These lists are also known as formularies. Although one plan might cover your heart medicine and another might cover your cholesterol prescription, you will ultimately need to find a plan that includes both to better protect your health. Call the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan you select to ask if they cover your medicines. • Determine ifyour pharmacy is in the plan you choose. Although separate plans might carry all of your prescriptions in their formularies, they may cover different pharmacies and mail order services. Ask your pharmacist if he or she is in the plan you’ve selected. Resources As you start thinking about how the different plans will fit your needs, remember that many professionals are available to help you. The State of Indiana’s trained counselors with the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) are able to answer many of

the questions you might have about the new prescription drug benefit. Call them toll-free at 1-800-452-4800. Additional resources • Check out the Medicare prescription drug plan finder tool found at www.medicare.gov. This tool allows you to create both general and specialized plan searches. Eventually, you will be able to create a one-page plan comparison chart that takes into account your prescriptions and dosages, your preferred pharmacy or mail order service, and your cost limit for deductibles and premiums. Again, SHIIP counselors can also help you understand this tool. • Call the 1-800-MEDICARE to reach the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ hotline. Say “agent” at any time to speak to a Medicare representative. • HoosierRx, the State of Indiana’s prescription assistance program for limited income seniors, provides premium assistance and a wraparound benefit for eligible individuals who receive little to no prescription drug assistance through Medicare. Contact HoosierRx representatives at 1-866-267-4679. Many local organizations also want to help make your choice easier. Check with your local senior center or Area Agency on Aging to find nearby participating organizations.

Conference on Aging is Dec. 6,7 Special to the Recorder

The 50th Annual Governor’s Conference on Aging will be Dec. 6 and 7 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. This event is scheduled in conjunction with the White House Conference on Aging. The local conference offers consumers, professionals, caregivers and providers an opportunity to spend two days discussing and learning about a variety of issues impacting older Hoosiers. Conference breakout sessions include topics such as “Mental Health and Aging,” “Medicare Part D - What You Need to Know,” “Health Disparities in the Minority Aging Population,” “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren,” and many others. Dr. Gene D. Cohen, the first director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University, is scheduled to give the opening keynote address at 8:45 a.m. Dec. 6. Gov. Mitch Daniels and Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Mitch Roob are scheduled to present awards at the Older Hoosier Awards Banquet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Emmy-award winning reporter Anne Ryder, from WTHR in Indianapolis, will speak at the closing luncheon Dec. 7. A White House Conference on Aging Town Hall Meeting will be from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Dec. 6. The public is invited to the town hall meeting, and conference registration is not required in order to attend. Conference registration information is available on the Division of Aging Web site: www.IN.gov/fssa/elderly/aging or by calling 1-800-545-7763.

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HEALTH BRIEFS

Wishard teams with WTHR for health fair Wishard Health Services and WTHR Channel 13 will invade Glendale Mall offering mall goers a chance to stay healthy while they shop. On Saturday, Dec. 10 shoppers are encouraged to take advantage of free health screenings including blood pressure, diabetes, depression, osteoporosis and children dental assessments at Glendale Mall, 6101 N. Keystone Ave. The fair will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information contact Todd Harper at (317) 630-7808 or email [email protected].

Wishard announces new COO Wishard Health Services recently announced that Jim N. Hayman has been appointed to the position of chief operating officer. Hayman previously worked for Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas since 1985. Hayman's responsibilities will include day-to-day management while leading the development and implementation of programs and services that support Wishard's mission, vision and goals.

Dr. Kenneth Ackles, Sr., D.C. Chiropractic Physician

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