Indiana's HoosierRx Program Partners with Eli Lilly and Company to Educate Seniors and Persons with Disabilities on Prescription Drug Discount Choices INDIANAPOLIS, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Indiana's Medicare enrollees will have the opportunity to learn about and apply for significant cost-savings programs for prescription drugs through a statewide outreach and education effort headed by HoosierRx, Eli Lilly and Company and a host of advocacy organizations. Trained Lilly retirees and employees will visit senior and community centers, health fairs, retirement centers, churches and local pharmacies in cities across the state throughout the summer and fall, providing information about the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card, the HoosierRx program and LillyAnswers. "Lilly is very proud to offer LillyAnswers to seniors as a solution to prescription drug coverage issues," said Jack Bailey, vice president, Business to Business, Eli Lilly and Company. "The program brings immediate help to seniors without prescription drug coverage whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but limited enough that paying cash for necessary medicines presents a significant financial barrier." More than 100 trained Lilly volunteers will visit more than 25 Indiana communities at 40 different events or programs during this outreach effort. The Lilly outreach effort will complement the work of the volunteers from the Senior Health Insurance Information Program who also are traversing Indiana to spread the work about the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards and the HoosierRx program. Upcoming events in the Indianapolis area where Lilly volunteers will be available are: * Indiana Minority Health Fair, July 15-17, Indiana Convention Center. Franklin Library, 401 State St., in Franklin, Aug. 9, 3-4 p.m. * Indiana State Fair, Aug. 11-22, with a special focus on Senior Day, Aug. 12. Other events throughout the state are being scheduled. "We are encouraging Hoosiers who are in the Medicare program to study the information about the new Medicare benefit and ask questions to help them better understand the benefits of the programs. That is why this outreach program is so important. Our volunteers will be out in the community talking to seniors in smaller settings to provide them with the information and application forms they need for the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards as well as our own LillyAnswers program and the HoosierRx program," said Julianna Newland, manager of Public Affairs in Indiana for Lilly. "Our outreach efforts will be especially helpful to low-income seniors or persons with disabilities on Medicare. Therefore, we want to be sure they know what prescription drug programs are available and how to apply." The Lilly outreach effort in Indiana also will include organizations that represent people with disabilities, as many of their members are enrolled in the Medicare program and can benefit from the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards. Seniors who meet certain income and other criteria may be eligible for a HoosierRx prescription card as well as LillyAnswers. These programs are intended to supplement the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards available to Medicare enrollees. Information on the new Medicare prescription drug discount benefit will be available from Lilly volunteers at the community events. How the cards work The HoosierRx card provides qualifying seniors with a 75-percent discount on the cost of their medications, up to a maximum benefit limit. The LillyAnswers program card enables participants to buy a 30-day supply of certain Lilly retail drugs or insulin for a monthly fee of only $12. The card is offered in conjunction with certain Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards and as a stand-alone program. Since it was created, the LillyAnswers program has filled more than one million prescriptions. Seniors who qualify for these programs may use both the state's HoosierRx drug card and the LillyAnswers card at their pharmacy. For example, a senior would use the LillyAnswers card when purchasing Lilly prescriptions and would pay a $12 fee for a 30-day supply. For all other drug purchases, the senior would use the HoosierRx Drug Card and pay only 25 percent of the cost for his prescriptions, including both brand name and generic. "I urge persons age 65 and over to apply for these drug cards for which they may be eligible, as there is not a cost to participate," said Grace Chandler, Director, HoosierRx. "It would be a shame if seniors lose out on the benefits available to them right now." Other organizations also are helping to educate seniors about the new Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card and HoosierRx. The Indiana Minority Health Coalition is informing minority communities statewide, and the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging is helping to identify locations for enrollment events that are accessible for seniors. Indiana Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) volunteers will assist at several sites. Additionally, many senior centers and pharmacies across the state will have information and enrollment forms. Seniors who cannot get to the site locations may access additional information for HoosierRx at 1-866-267-4679 or http://www.in.gov/HoosierRx . Information for Lilly Answers is provided at 1-877-RX-LILLY (1-877-795-4559) or http://www.lillyanswers.com/ . About HoosierRx HoosierRx is Indiana's Prescription Drug Program for low-income seniors. The program was created in 2000 by the late Governor Frank O'Bannon and the Indiana General Assembly. Seniors who are eligible for HoosierRx receive their prescriptions at less-than-retail price, plus now save an additional 75 percent on drug purchases, up to a limit of $1,200. To qualify for HoosierRx, a senior must be age 65 or older, without prescription drug coverage and must receive a low monthly income. Currently, nearly 20,000 seniors are enrolled in the program. HoosierRx is accepting applications to serve up to 30,000 seniors. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/ . (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO ) http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company; Indiana Family & Social Services Administration CONTACT: Janice Chavers of Lilly, +1-317-651-6253, ; or Grace Chandler of Hoosier Rx, +1-317-234-1341,

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