Developing rural information and assistance programs.

Older people living in rural areas face unique challenges, not only in accessing benefits and services, but also in gathering information about programs that can help them. In this brief, we tackle the issue of information and assistance (I&A) in rural areas by profiling an area agency on aging that has successfully established an I&A program designed to meet the needs of rural elders. We offer tips from the agency's experience and insight from experts in the field.

Prescription drug coverage for people with Medicare.

Medicare currently does not provide outpatient prescription drug coverage. People with Medicare who do not have continuous prescription drug coverage face higher out-of-pocket expenditures and may not comply with their prescriptions in order to save money. This brief explores some of the issues facing beneficiaries without drug coverage and describes some of the different options available to help offset the costs of prescription medications.

Finding reliable health-care information on the internet.

The number of Web sites offering health and health-care information has grown dramatically over the past several years. However, it can be difficult to tell whether or not the information that you find is reliable and accurate. In this brief we describe the nature of this issue and offer some practical tips for judging reliability when searching for information on the Internet.

Medicare preventive services.

Preventive services, such as mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings, can save lives. Since 1997, Medicare has had a renewed emphasis on wellness through its expanded preventive health benefits. In this brief we discuss the importance of screenings and prevention, focusing specifically on Medicare coverage of these benefits.

The role of the PROs.

Peer review organizations (PROs) play a critical part in the Medicare program, yet their efforts on behalf of beneficiaries are not well-known. In this brief we explore the role of the PROs, focusing specifically on quality improvement, appeals, and beneficiary education.