Washington, DC - With less than two months before the deadline to enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug program, the National Medical Association issued a call to action on Capitol Hill to African American leaders encouraging them to assist seniors and people with disabilities with how to get enrolled in the program.

With nearly 43 million individuals eligible for Medicare and an estimated 4.2 million that are African American, few are registering for the new Medicare prescription drug plan. This prompted the NMA's call to action which brought more than 30 Black physicians, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Office of Minority Health, AARP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., United Health Group, health and senior advocates, as well as leaders from civic and civil rights organizations.

"We want to take the politics out of the equation and focus on the positive benefits of Medicare Part D," said Sandra L. Gadson, M.D., President of the National Medical Association. "We can ill afford to sit back while our senior population struggles with how to get enrolled in this valuable program. If we think that we have a health disparity crisis now, imagine if we do not succeed in enrolling African American seniors who will benefit from the plan," she added.

While enrollment is voluntary, many African American seniors are not taking advantage of this important health benefit, particularly those with limited incomes who may qualify for extra help paying for their prescription drug plans. The enrollment period closes on May 15th. If a person who qualifies for Medicare Part D does not enroll by the deadline they will have to pay 100 percent of the costs for their prescription drugs until open enrollment begins in November. In addition, they will be penalized one percent for each month they are not enrolled for the rest of their life -- one percent per month more for the cost of their monthly premiums and prescription drug costs.

"We find ourselves in a difficult position because we didn't support the president's Medicare drug plan in its current form, but among those who have had the most difficulty enrolling in the plan are African Americans," said Representative Donna Christen Christensen (Delegate-Virgin Islands), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.

Fran Cooper, a 67-year old Medicare beneficiary from Nebraska who initially disliked the plan attended the event to share her story and insights on how to reach African American seniors. "You can never make this work by giving out general information, because this is not a general plan; it's a personal plan," said Ms. Cooper. "You cannot make an intelligent decision about anything, unless you are properly informed," she added.

Other leaders in attendance included AARP President Marie Smith whose membership is over 36 million. She emphasized the AARP's commitment to work with their chapters across the country to assist all seniors with enrolling in this plan. Wellington Webb with United Health Group and former Mayor of Denver says their organization has been traveling across the country conducting education and outreach to seniors about the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. He said, "This is about people." Willard C. Hall, Jr., Executive Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. stated that they are committed through their membership and chapters across the country to become educated about the Medicare Part D program.

Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the administration is also partnering with these organizations to conduct Medicare mobile office tours, town hall meetings and health fairs in the weeks leading up to the enrollment deadline.

The National Medical Association is the largest and oldest national organization representing over 30,000 African American physicians in the United States.

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