DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health Inc. is helping its retail pharmacy clients educate their patients about new Medicare benefits and options to be available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act starting next year.
The pharmaceutical distributor said Wednesday that in preparation for the Medicare open enrollment period, which starts Oct. 15, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is offering materials to inform patients about new Medicare benefits such as preventive health care services like mammograms and annual wellness visits as well as new prescription drug savings options.
Cardinal noted that it’s supporting the HHS campaign by promoting the educational materials among its retail pharmacy customers, which include several hundred regional chain drug stores and more than 7,500 independent pharmacies across the country.
In addition, Cardinal is also hosting a series of webinars for its retail pharmacy clients to ensure that pharmacists and pharmacy owners are familiar with the free patient educational materials. The company said the webinars will also reinforce the key role that community pharmacists can play in making patients are aware of their Medicare coverage choices.
"It’s important for Medicare beneficiaries to fully understand their coverage options —and the new benefits and services that are available to them starting in 2013," Jon Giacomin, president of U.S. pharmaceutical distribution at Cardinal Health, said in a statement. "It’s our pleasure to make sure that our customers have access to these patient education materials because Cardinal Health passionately believes that community pharmacists can play a powerful role in helping patients better manage their health and in helping patients make more informed decisions about their health care."
