Contact: Donna Childress
202-479-6983
703-862-313

Access to Benefits Coalition Announces $2 Million
Grant Program to Fund Local Outreach & Enrollment Initiatives

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2003 -- The Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) will provide up to 50 grants for as much as $40,000 each to foster the development of community-wide initiatives focused on enrolling lower income Medicare beneficiaries in the public and private programs that can save them money on prescription drugs.

"This is just one of many steps we need to take to help reach ABC's goal of enrolling 5.5 million low-income beneficiaries in the Medicare-approved discount card program by the end 2005" said ABC Chair James P. Firman. "By forming local coalitions across the country, we will be harnessing the grassroots power of hundreds of trusted, community-based organizations to help some of America's most vulnerable citizens find maximum savings on their prescription drugs."

The recently launched national coalition of 78 non-profit organizations has already identified and will award planning grants to lead organizations in 30 major metropolitan areas where the greatest concentrations of Medicare beneficiaries with lower incomes live. These planning grants will be publicly announced later.

ABC is also announcing an open competition for 20 or more additional coalitions which can be state-wide, in rural areas or in mid-sized cities.

"We are delighted to be partnering with the Access to Benefits Coalition so we can maximize the use of all available resources - public and private - to find and assist people who need help paying for their medicines," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

"ABC is to be commended for fostering innovative, community-wide strategies to enroll low-income Medicare beneficiaries in the new Prescription Drug Discount Program."

All 50 coalitions are expected to develop and implement systematic, coordinated strategies to achieve specific outreach, education, and enrollment goals. Coalitions will involve a variety of organizations (including, but not limited to local affiliates of ABC's 78 national

members) as well as government agencies (including CMS regional offices, Regional Education About Choices in Health (REACH) and National Medicare Education Program (NMEP) partners, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs.)

The deadline for full proposals is August 2 with grant awards to be announced September 1, 2004. To view the complete grant announcement and request for proposal, go to www.accesstobenefits.org and click on Coalition Resources/Grants. The grants are supported by private funds donated to ABC.

ABC is a public-private partnership dedicated to ensuring that lower-income beneficiaries know about and can make optimal use of new Medicare prescription drug benefits and all other available resources for saving money on prescription drugs. Coalition members share a commitment to helping Medicare beneficiaries find the public and private prescription savings programs they need to maintain their health and improve the quality of their lives. In addition to the resources of its 78 members, ABC activities are supported by funds being raised from public and private sources, including government, private industry and foundations. Chaired by The National Council on the Aging, ABC is led by a five-member Steering Committee, comprised of leaders from NCOA; AARP; Alzheimer's Association; National Alliance for Hispanic Health; and Easter Seals. Further information is available at www.accesstobenefits.org.