I wanted to take a moment to share some items of interest.

CHANGES TO PRESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE
As of July 1, 2002, the nation's first state-sponsored prescription drug insurance plan for elders with disabilities has undergone a few changes. These changes include a reduction in the number of income eligibility categories from eight to five, new cost-sharing provisions for members in those five categories and new, more affordable annual out-of-pocket spending limits for married couples enrolled in the plan. The new plan design will continue to protect eligible low-income beneficiaries while making it more affordable for middle-income people. More than 74,000 people have enrolled in Prescription Advantage since its launch over 12 months ago. To schedule an information session on the changes or a presentation in your area, please call Mary Haley at Elder Affairs: 617-222-7554.

MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT
You may have heard about three large pharmacy chains that recently threatened to pull out of Medicaid programs as a result of a budget proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursement rates. I want you to know that I fully support all efforts to safeguard access to prescription drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries. Despite our current fiscal crisis, I was pleased to support the passage of legislation in the Senate that would have frozen the pharmacy reimbursement rate at its previous level until a public hearing could be held on the impact of the proposed increase. Unfortunately, the bill did not gain passage in the House before the formal legislative session ended. However, the chains have agreed to continue filling Medicaid prescriptions until a public hearing takes place, which will be held at the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy on September 5, 2002 at 9:30 a.m. at Two Boylston Street, Boston. Rest assured that I will monitor this important situation and will fight to protect access to prescription drugs for all Medicaid beneficiaries.

OLDER WORKERS ARE KEY TO REJUVENATING THE ECONOMY
A CBS Marketwatch report recently concluded that unemployed workers over the age of 50 are being reabsorbed into the workforce at faster rates than other workers as employers place a premium on ìexperienced staffî to lead a company through troubled times. The study found that search times for workers over the age of 50 fell to 2.96 months in 2001 from 3.83 months in 1999. According to the Bureau of Labor, workers over the age of 55 will grow by 32 percent by 2021, whereas the working population of 35 to 44 year olds will shrink by 10.2 percent.

JOYCE HELPS ELDERS RECEIVE CARE IN DIGNITY OF HOME
I am pleased to announce that my Community Choices pilot program amendment is included in the budget. The program will begin to remedy the gross disparity in Medicaid coverage between individuals who choose to receive care at home and those who seek care in an institution. Under the program, integrated health care services will be provided at home to persons whose health care costs would be at least 50 percent below the cost of care they would otherwise receive in an institution under the state's Medicaid long-term care waiver. Institutional care is far more costly than care provided at home; nursing home care is currently estimated at more than $50,000 a year. Stay tuned for information on how to qualify for this service.

BEAT THE HEAT WITH THESE HOT WEATHER TIPS
As you get older, it becomes harder for your body to respond to extreme temperatures. Some medications, such as diuretics and high blood pressure medicine, can make you even more susceptible to heat. People who have lung or kidney disease are especially at risk in hot weather. Two of the most common illnesses related to extreme heat are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is caused by overexposure to heat, resulting in loss of body water and salt. The symptoms for heat exhaustion include weakness, heavy sweating, nausea, giddiness, dizziness, collapse, fatigue, and cool, clammy, red or flushed skin. If heat exhaustion is left untreated, heat stroke can develop which is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body becomes dangerously overheated.

HOT WEATHER TIPS
There is plenty you can do to stay cool during the hot summer months. Try to stay in air-conditioned rooms, such as a library or movie theater, and avoid direct sunlight. In order to cool off, place bags of ice or wet towels on your body while sitting by a fan, or take cool baths or showers. Wearing lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing, in addition to avoiding strenuous activity, will also help you beat the heat this summer. Always remember to drink plenty of fluids such as water and vegetable juices, and try to avoid dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and drinks with high salt and caffeine content.

ELDER CORPS IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD SENIOR AIDES
Elder Affairs is recruiting elders to work for the Senior Community Services Employment Program, popularly known as ìSenior Aides.î The program provides useful and meaningful employment to eligible low-income people age 55 or older. The Senior Aides Program offers job training skills to transition employees from subsidized to unsubsidized employment. Elder Affairs has contracted with Easter Seals of Massachusetts to train Senior Aides in sites in Boston and Worcester in customer service and basic computer skills. For more information, call 1-800-AGE-INFO (TTY: 1-800-872-0166).

Questions or concerns? Please contact me at my office at (617) 722-1643,
my home at (617) 696-0200, or by email at [email protected]
Thank you for allowing me to work for you.

SENATOR BRIAN A. JOYCE
State House, Room 413-A, Boston, Massachusetts 02133
Tel. 617-722-1643 Fax 617-722-1522 E-mail: [email protected]