Comments by National Leaders

“HHS and the Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) have committed to working together in a complementary fashion to target low-income beneficiaries with education and enrollment programs. We want to make sure they take advantage of the substantive savings the Medicare-approved cards provide.” – HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson

"We are going to work with our public and private partners who are committed to help Americans most in need reduce their drug costs right now." -- CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D.

"Each of us in the public and private sectors has an important role to play in educating beneficiaries and providing info rmation to assist them to enroll. This coordinated approach is an effective means of reaching those who can benefit the most and often have difficulty accessing info rmation." -- Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell

“I am pleased that these critical organizations have put aside political and policy differences to come together and do what is in the best interest of America 's seniors.” – Senate Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)

"The only clear benefit is the $600 in transitional assistance. Unfortunately, very few low-income people even know it exists. The national organizations involved in the Access to Benefits Coalition should be applauded for this effort.” -- U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Comments by the ABC Steering Committee 

“We want to provide community-based organizations with the tools they need to enroll their populations. We believe that getting people enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug card program is important for people's health and well-being—not just for Hispanics, but for everyone. ” -- Jane Delgado , president and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

"Our goal is to make sure that people on the front lines in community organizations have the info rmation, training, and technical assistance that the coalition is making available to best help them help their clients and their clients' families to understand and use this drug discount and assistance program.  Mobilizing people and organizations in this way is essential, and it's going to work.” - Randy Rutta , Easter Seals

“AARP is strongly committed to ensuring that the benefits of the Medicare card actually reach the lower-income seniors who can receive $1200 in assistance toward their drug costs.  We will support the ABC coalition efforts with our ability to mobilize grassroots and our media outreach that will reach millions.” – John Rother, director of public policy, AARP

"The best part of the new law is what it can do for low-income people. We intend to go out and get them enrolled. It's an important task for the millions of lower income people with Alzheimer's and for the many hard to reach seniors and persons with disabilities who can taken advantage of this program." -- Steve McConnell, vice president, public policy and advocacy, Alzheimer's Association

Comments by Supporters

"In our experience with the Pfizer Share Card in helping low-income seniors to find prescription savings, we know the importance of trusted community voices in getting important messages heard by the people they serve. ABC is providing a great service to millions of Americans in need." -- Forest Harper, vice president, Pfizer Inc. .