FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2006
Contact:
Jim Baker
(202) 973-7114
jbaker@ucp.org

United Cerebral Palsy Releases Consumer Guide
to Assist People with Disabilities
Maximize Medicare Part D Drug Coverage

WASHINGTON, DC - United Cerebral Palsy, one of the nation's largest health charities, announced the release of Navigating the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Program: A Guide for People with Disabilities, Benefits Counselors, Disability Organizations and Others on Ensuring Adequate and Appropriate Access to Prescription Drugs. The guide serves as a follow-up and companion document toUnderstanding Changes in Prescription Drug Coverage for People with Disabilities on Medicare, a consumer guide written by the same authors in 2005.

Free copies of the guide are available in PDF, Microsoft Word and HTML formats online at www.ucp.org.

"This new guide to the Medicare prescription drug benefit affirms the commitment of United Cerebral Palsy to ensure Americans with disabilities are able to access the highest quality health care possible," said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy.

Navigating the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Program empowers Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities who are now enrolled in the Part D program, including dual- eligibles or individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, to get the most out of their drug coverage. The guide was written in a question and answer format and includes worksheets that individuals can use to create a healthcare diary.

"Part D's creation comes at a time when prescription medications increasingly are becoming major tools people with disabilities use to enhance their health and independence," said Bob Williams, a disability policy expert and a co-author of the report. "The aim of this guide is to better equip such beneficiaries with the knowledge, skills and persistence they need to make the most of such coverage."

"Through the Part D program, more responsibility is being shifted to individuals to advocate for themselves and take steps to protect their access to needed drugs. In many cases, however, individuals have not been given the skills or information needed to effectively protect their interests. We hope that this guide is a useful starting point for people with disabilities and other Medicare beneficiaries to make the most of their Part D drug coverage," said Jeffrey S. Crowley, Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute, and a co-author of the report.

The report was written for United Cerebral Palsy by Jeffrey S. Crowley, a Senior Research Scholar at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, and Bob Williams, a disability policy consultant. Financial support for the guide was generously provided by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

About United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy is one of the nation's leading organizations serving and advocating for the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. Most UCP consumers are people with disabilities other than cerebral palsy. Through its nationwide network, United Cerebral Palsy offers services to individuals, families and communities such as job training and placement, physical therapy, individual and family support, early intervention, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, and instruction on how to use technology to perform everyday tasks. For more information, visit www.ucp.org or call (800) 872-5827.