NEW LAW EFFECTIVE THIS COMING JANUARY
CONGRESSMAN VISITS WAYNE, CLIFTON, NUTLEY

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today held a series of Town Hall style meetings to explain the complexities, and provide resources to simplify the new Medicare drug laws that will be enacted in January of 2006.  The tour is a response to the widespread confusion surrounding the new drug program.  The tour is expected to educate hundreds of seniors. 

"I have heard the confused and anxious voices of seniors throughout New Jersey and America," stated Pascrell.  "I opposed this new prescription drug plan, but am prepared to work with seniors to make the very best of the hand they were dealt.  My goal is to make sure that each person knows the facts of the new drug benefit.  I want to help seniors examine their own situation, and make the decision that best benefits them."
 
On December 8, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act into law.  This was preceded by narrow passage in both the House of Representatives and the Senate after some of the most contentious debate in the recent history of Congress.  This legislation created a prescription drug plan under Medicare.

The new prescription drug benefit is scheduled to begin in January, 2006. It is called Medicare Part D and will be provided by private companies, not directly by Medicare. 

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