August 5th, 2009

Announces the PA Dept. of Aging:

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has scheduled listening sessions across the state on the new Integrated Care Initiative, an effort to make it easier for older consumers to deal with Medicare and Medicaid issues.

The new health care option would combine Medicare and Medicaid services in order to create a single source for consumers to work with both agencies, helping to reduce paperwork and minimize delays.

“The Integrated Care Initiative is designed to make it easier for older adults to get medical and long-term living services,” said Secretary John Michael Hall. “Our goal is to reduce confusion for those who deal with Medicare and Medicaid by creating a new, centralized program and we want to hear from people about their concerns and needs.”

The program would be voluntary and would cover doctor and emergency room visits, home health care, nursing home care and many other services. The program, which is scheduled to start July 1, 2010, is open to people 60 and older who are eligible for Medicaid and are enrolled in Medicare.

Input offered by consumers at the listening sessions will help to shape the program. A full description of the program and enrollment information will be provided after the program is finalized.

The listening sessions are free and open to the public. To register, call 1-877-591-6826. All sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

Friday, Aug. 7
Philadelphia Senior Center
509 South Broad Street
Philadelphia

Monday, Aug. 10
Circle of Friends – Baden
Corner of Linmore and Wayne Streets
Baden

Tuesday, Aug. 11
Vintage Senior Center
410 North Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh

Friday, Aug. 14
Lancaster Farm and Home Care Center
1383 Arcadia Road
Lancaster

Monday, Aug. 17
Westmoreland Community College
Science Hall
145 Pavilion Lane
Youngwood

Wednesday, Aug. 26
JCC’s Kline Branch Center and Russian Satellite
10100 Jamison Avenue
Philadelphia

Friday, Aug. 28
Hispanic Senior Center
520 East Fourth Street
Bethlehem

Monday, Aug. 31
Conference call: 1-800-706-7745; use pass code 34106431.

For more information about the Department of Aging, visit www.aging.state.pa.us.