HHS partners with pharmacies to educate Medicare beneficiaries about new health benefits
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created partnerships with several pharmacies to help patients learn about new Medicare benefits available under the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform legislation that was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in late June.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created partnerships with several pharmacies to help patients learn about new Medicare benefits available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the healthcare reform legislation that was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in late June.
CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Thrift White, Walmart, and Sam’s Club will provide Medicare beneficiaries with educational materials on newly available preventive services, as well as on savings on prescription drug spending in the “donut hole” coverage gap. At a CVS in Jacksonville, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discussed the new preventive services and received a free blood-pressure screening at the CVS MinuteClinic.
“Our pharmacy partners are helping their customers make informed healthcare decisions,” said Secretary Sebelius in a press statement. “These partnerships will help people with Medicare learn more about new preventive services such as mammograms and the new annual wellness visit that are available at no charge for everyone with Medicare.”
HHS offered several examples of how these pharmacies are working to increase awareness of preventive services available under Medicare, such as the following:
- CVS Caremark is providing material about new preventive services covered at no cost to beneficiaries at its more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy stores and 600 MinuteClinic locations, through brochures, register receipt messages, and online.
- Walgreens is also distributing information on preventive services in nearly 8,000 pharmacies and more than 350 TakeCare Clinic locations, as well as through in-store announcements, and it is offering the information during its Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP.
- Thrifty White Pharmacy is providing information about preventive services through its 85 locations in the Midwest.
- Walmart and Sam’s Club will be offering this information to their shoppers online.
Other pharmacies or partners can find information on how to work with CMS to educate consumers about the new health benefits at:CMS Partnership Opportunities.
