WESTMINSTER
,
MD
—
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today told residents of the
Carroll
Lutheran
Village
that the new health reform law will help reduce their prescription drug costs and reduce other out-of-pocket expenses they may incur.
He announced that starting this month, seniors who reach the Medicare Part D “donut hole” will receive a $250 check from the federal government and that by 2020 the donut hole will be entirely eliminated.
“Seniors are the biggest users of our health care system and that’s why it’s so important that they understand the additional benefits that will be coming their way thanks to the new law,” said
Senator Cardin.
“The new law provides many opportunities for seniors to have a healthier, better quality of life – at a lower cost — as they grow older.”
The health reform bill contains a number of provisions that will benefit seniors.
In addition to the elimination of the Medicare Part D “donut hole” by 2020, in 2011 the new law also eliminates deductibles, co-pays and other cost sharing for preventive care, and provides free annual wellness checkups.
In 2012, senior will be able to take advantage of a voluntary long-term care insurance program.
And, in 2014, the new law institutes a number of provisions, including the creation a pathway for the approval of generic biologic drugs to lower the cost of medications, promotion of better care after hospital discharge, development of better reporting about quality of health care services and using provider payments to reward high-quality, efficient health care.
Carroll
Lutheran
Village
is a fee-for-service continuing care retirement community with more than 700 residents.
It is the
36th largest single site non-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community in the nation – and the third largest in the
Baltimore
region.
It is licensed by the Maryland Department of Aging, nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) – Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), and a member of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).
