Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., is partnering with AARP in a campaign to educate elderly Hispanics and their families on the new Medicare prescription drug program, which was signed into law in December 2003. NCLR will use its network of affiliated community-based organizations in Chicago, the District of Columbia, Miami, and Oakland to provide culturally and linguistically relevant information to low-income Latino elderly who may be able to enroll for the discount drug program.

“With AARP’s support and the expertise of NCLR-affiliated community-based organizations, we are getting information out to our community and ensuring that those Latinos who may be eligible have the opportunity to obtain the new Medicare-approved drug discount card,” said Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director and COO.

The Medicare law makes major changes to Medicare, the nation’s health insurance program for people age 65 and over and some persons with disabilities. The most important change is related to discounted prescription drug costs for people with Medicare. Lower-income beneficiaries may qualify for a $600 prescription credit in 2004 if they enroll before the end of the year, and another $600 credit in 2005.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with NCLR to ensure that eligible Latinos over the age of 65 receive the money they are entitled to through this legislation,” says Bill Novelli, President and CEO of AARP. “In order to educate people on potential benefits, it is important to reach people in their own communities and neighborhoods with credible counselors and materials in both Spanish and English.”

NCLR is partnering with its affiliated community-based organizations – La Clínica de La Raza (Oakland, CA), Alivio Medical Center (Chicago, IL), La Clínica del Pueblo (Washington, DC), and Abriendo Puertas (Miami, FL) – to get accurate information on the drug benefit cards into the hands of Latinos in their communities. The multifaceted campaign will engage the services of promotores de salud – lay health outreach workers – who will use collateral materials and the assistance of public service announcements to provide seniors with information on the benefit and where to call for assistance in signing up for the card.

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