The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARD

Beginning May 3, 2004, Medicare-eligible seniors and people with disabilities can choose a Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card to use until Medicare's prescription drug benefit takes effect in 2006. Medicare-approved discount cards can be used beginning June 1, 2004. The cost of these new discount cards vary but will cost no more than $30.00 per year. The cards, which can provide savings of 10 to 25 percent off retail prescription drug prices, are offered by a select number of private businesses and organizations.

Attorney General Mike Cox is concerned that with all the choices now available to the Medicare-eligible population, scam artists may try to take advantage of the situation. Seniors and the disabled need to be wary of unscrupulous vendors who might attempt to sell bogus drug discount cards or collect personal information that could be used in identity-theft crimes. For these reasons, Attorney General Cox asks you to keep the following in mind:

• Medicare does not allow drug card companies to come to your home if you have not invited them or for drug card companies to call you on the phone to sell you their card. If someone comes to your door to sell you a card, do not allow that person in your house. Likewise, if you receive an unsolicited phone call offering to sell you a Medicare-approved drug discount card, hang up on the caller. They are not legitimate.
 
• Medicare beneficiaries, or anyone else for that matter, should never share personal information such as bank account number, social security number, health insurance card number (or Medicare number) with anyone who calls or comes to the door trying to sell Medicare cards or services. If you or a loved one suspects a scam, call the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services at 1-800-447-8477. (Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Hot Tips, 330 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201; e-mail: hhstips@oig.hhs.gov).
 
• The real Medicare-approved discount cards will have a federal government seal that looks like this.

• Not all pharmacies accept all discount cards, even if they bear the Medicare seal of approval. Check with your pharmacist before you obtain a specific Medicare-approved discount card to verify the pharmacy will accept it.
 
• Medicare is mailing letters to tell Medicare beneficiaries how and when to apply for the discount card program. You may want to wait for your letter before signing up for a card.

There are many choices and options available under the new prescription drug discount plan. Since beneficiaries may only purchase one Medicare-approved discount card, they need to carefully research every feature of a card before they purchase it. This task can be daunting. There are resources available to assist you in choosing a Medicare-approved drug discount card that best fits your needs. If you have questions or need help, you can contact:

• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or www.Medicare.gov
• The Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program: 1-800-803-7174 or www.MyMMAP.org
• AARP: 1-888-OURAARP (1-888-687-2277) or www.AARP.org

 Consumers may also contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at:

Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-1140
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll free: 877-765-8388
www.michigan.gov/ag (online complaint form)

Here is a list of Medicare-approved card sponsors that have either a national service area or can be used in Michigan: 

• AdvancePCS Health, L.P.
• Aetna Health Management, LLC
• Argus Health Systems, Inc.
• Caremark Advantage, Inc.
• Catalyst RX
• Computer Sciences Corporation
• Express Scripts, Inc.
• First Health Services Corporation
• Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance, LLC
• Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
• PBM Plus, Inc.
• PharmaCare Management Services, Inc.
• Pharmacy Care Alliance, Inc.
• Scrip Solutions, LLC
• SXC Health Solutions, Inc.
• United Healthcare Insurance Co.
• WellPoint Pharmacy Management
• WHP Health Initiatives, Inc.