Affordable Care Act Offers One-Time, $250 Rebate Checks for Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D Donut Hole

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced that the third round of one-time, tax-free $250 rebate checks have been mailed to eligible Medicare beneficiaries whose drug costs are so high they have reached the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole.”

Experts estimate that more than a quarter of Part D enrollees hit the donut hole and often stop following their drug regimen as a result of the added cost burden. The $250 rebates will go a long way in preventing seniors from having to make such difficult and almost certainly harmful health decisions. Across the country, more than 750,000 Medicare beneficiaries have already received checks this year, and more beneficiaries will be receiving checks in the coming months as they enter the coverage gap.

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project has published a combined edition of PHLP’s two newsletters - the Health Law PA News and the Senior Health News. The combined issue is now available on PALawHELP.org.

The June/July 2010 issue of Health Law Pa News and Senior Health News contains the following articles:

• PA Budget Passes But Contains Less Federal Revenue Than Expected
• Feds Approve PA’s High Risk Plan, But Make Changes
• MATP Expands Methadone Maintenance Cost-Saving Pilot
• Health Care Reform Resources Our Readers Might Find Helpful
• Pennsylvania Creates Health Care Reform Advisory Committee
• Continuing Health Plan Expansions in Southeast and Lehigh Capital Zones
• Reminder: Resource Limits for Medicare Savings Program Now $6,600/$9,910
• Parent Youth Professional Forums Announcement
• New OMHSAS Bulletin Extends Wraparound Re-Evaluation Timeframe

Health Law PA News and the Senior Health News - June/July 2010 [PDF]

Stronger education, training and advocacy is needed to help Pennsylvanians adopt a “zero tolerance” attitude toward domestic violence, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Domestic Violence Task Force.

The task force, formed in September 2008, was created to provide recommendations for raising awareness about the magnitude of domestic violence in the state, reducing the occurrence of domestic violence and improving the systems and services for victims of abuse.

The task force report offers 22 recommendations impacting education and outreach, legal procedures, research and data collection and medical and workplace resources for domestic violence victims.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced the availability of weekly e-mail alerts to provide consumers with electric pricing information and competitive offers available in their area.

The PUC has just released updated estimates comparing current market prices with capped electric generation prices. According to the estimates, the market has been relatively stable since the previous estimates were released in April 2010. The Commission emphasizes that wholesale prices are subject to constant change and can be volatile. The prices may stabilize or trend upward or downward in the future.

With that in mind, consumers can sign up for weekly e-mail alerts at www.PAPowerSwitch.com. In Pennsylvania, consumers can choose the company that generates your electricity - also known as the electric supplier. This means consumers have the power to switch to a competing supplier who can offer the lowest price, or provide a specific service such as green/renewable energy.