(AUGUSTA) Consumers for Affordable Health Care, AARP, State Senator Stan Gerzofsky and State Representative Alex Cornell du Houx, both of whom represent Brunswick in the State Legislature, held an event with senior residents of the Woodlawn Towers in Brunswick today regarding the changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The ACA was signed into law over six months ago and many provisions affecting seniors have already gone into effect.  The reason for the event was to inform residents of the new benefits they can receive under the new law, dispel any misinformation about the Act they may have heard, and let them know the timeline of when do expect further benefits.  While some benefits of the new law have already gone into effect, the law is not going to be fully implemented until 2014.   
 
"There is good news for seniors and their families in the new federal law" said Nancy Kelleher, State Director for AARP.  "The new law will improve Medicare by offering more preventive health services to screen for cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other life changing diseases, plus it adds in an annual exam for the first time for many of us with Medicare cards."
 
A longtime concern of seniors is Medicare prescription drug coverage, and for those seniors that fall in the coverage gap known as the "donut hole", they will receive a $250 rebate check from Medicare to help pay for your prescriptions.  Beginning in 2011, seniors again falling into the donut hole will receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs. Every year after, seniors will pay less for their prescription drugs in the donut hole until the gap is closed in 2020. Between now and then, seniors will get continuous Medicare coverage for prescription drugs.
 
"Medicare and Social Security have been important in maintaining the social fabric of America," said Senator Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick.  "These programs have kept millions of people healthy and out of poverty.  Improving Medicare will only ensure that more people will have security and peace of mind in their golden years."
 
"Many provisions in the ACA have been included to strengthen Medicare and extend its solvency," noted Greg White with Consumers for Affordable Health Care.  "In fact the life of the Medicare Trust fund will be extended to at least 2029, a 12-year extension as a result of reducing waste, fraud and abuse, and slowing cost growth in Medicare. This will provide enrollees with future cost savings on your premiums and coinsurance."
 
The new law will attempt to reduce Medicare fraud 50 percent by 2012. The Affordable Care Act makes an historic, ten-year, $350 million investment to prevent, detect and fight fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program-including criminal efforts to exploit the new law.