HHS Regional Director, State and City Officials Will Headline Events in Three States to Educate Seniors About Lower Drug Prices
Watch All Tour Stops Live Here.
Washington, D.C. — On the second week of the “Medicare is Better Than Ever” tour, Protect Our Care’s Medicare-A-Van will make stops in three states to educate seniors across the nation about new benefits thanks to legislation signed into law last year by President Biden. As seniors begin to enroll in their 2024 Medicare plans, they could save thousands of dollars on their prescription drug costs, with even more savings down the road. Over three weeks, Protect Our Care will travel to more than 10 states, make more than 25 stops, and travel over 7,000 miles.
The tour will highlight all of the new cost-saving benefits for seniors in the Inflation Reduction Act, including:
- Medicare negotiation for lower drug prices
- A $35 monthly copay cap on insulin
- Free shingles and other essential vaccinations
- $2,000 out-of-pocket caps on prescription drugs beginning in 2025
Right now, the Biden administration is in the process of lowering prices for the first round of high-cost prescription drugs under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, and those prices will take effect in 2026. The first ten drugs selected for negotiation are taken by nearly 9 million people on Medicare, who spent $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs last year alone. This new program will lower prices for some of the highest-priced prescription drugs on the market used to treat conditions like diabetes, heart failure, blood clots, and autoimmune disorders.
MONDAY
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA:
WHO:
Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed
Beth Bland, Executive Director of the Valley Program for Aging Services
Betty Tabony, storyteller
WHERE: Ralph Sampson Park, 431 E Washington St, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
WHEN: Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11:00 AM ET
TUESDAY
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA:
WHO:
Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea
Delegate Sam Rasoul
Ron Boyd, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Local Office on Aging
Robbie Boyd, LTC Ombudsman at the Local Office on Aging
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, 1st St NW, Roanoke, VA 24016
WHEN: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET
WEDNESDAY
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA:
WHO:
State Representative Sarah Crawford
Carla West, Senior Director for Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, NC DHHS
Two Retired School Personnel Members
WHERE: Moore Square Park, 201 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
WHEN: Wednesday, November 01, 2023 at TBA
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA:
WHO:
Two Retired School Personnel Members
WHERE: TBA
WHEN: Wednesday, November 01, 2023 at TBA
THURSDAY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
WHO:
HHS Regional Director
Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Rob Pitts
A Representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
A Representative from the Office of Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA-05)
WHERE: H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multipurpose Facility, 2885 Church St, East Point, GA 30344
WHEN: Thursday, November 02, 2023 at TBA
FRIDAY
LITHONIA, GEORGIA:
WHO:
A Representative from the Office of Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04)
WHERE: Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Rd, Lithonia, GA 30058
WHEN: Friday, November 03, 2023 at 11:00 AM ET