Washington, DC - Today Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns, joined the American Cancer Society to inform Brooklyn seniors about a new Medicare benefit designed to help improve cancer screening rates and overall health outcomes among the Medicare population.

The “Welcome to Medicare benefit,” which took effect on January 1, 2005, provides coverage for new Medicare beneficiaries to receive an initial physical exam within six months of their enrollment in the Medicare Program. The physical exam is the first of its kind for the 40-year old healthcare program and provides Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to speak with their physician about diet and exercise, tobacco cessation, and to receive or be referred for screening and diagnostic exams and other preventive services covered by Medicare, including; breast, cervical, colon, and prostate cancer screening tests.

Cancer disproportionately affects the elderly. It is the leading cause of death among Americans aged 60-79 and the second leading cause of death for those over 80. In 2004, more than 2 million Medicare beneficiaries were treated for cancer.  Although Medicare already provides coverage for many screening tests, utilization has remained low. The “Welcome to Medicare” physical offers an opportunity for physicians to inform or remind their patients about these screenings and in many cases schedule them.

Congressman Towns said, “Physician recommendation is a key factor for patients in deciding to get screening testing, the ‘Welcome to Medicare’ exam  acts as a gateway for physicians to recommend these screening tests to their patients, which can help increase screening rates among seniors. In my position on the Health subcommittee I have seen the debilitating effects of Cancer in Brooklyn and across the nation, this new Medicare program is a wonderful victory for all seniors”.

In 2003, the American Cancer Society partnered with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to secure coverage for the “Welcome to Medicare” physical as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.  The organizations are now working to make sure all new Medicare beneficiaries, and those at the threshold of becoming eligible, are aware of the benefit.

"Due to the fact that the new 'Welcome to Medicare' benefit is time-limited, I strongly encourage my constituents who are seniors to act quickly and take advantage of it This new benefit will help promote prevention and early detection, which is an important first step to improving screening rates and the health of our seniors, The American Cancer Society and I urge all new Medicare beneficiaries in  to schedule an appointment with their physicians as soon as possible.” Concluded, Congressman Towns.

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