Jim Gelbmann, state director for Senator Mark Dayton, D-Minn., will meet with area residents at 11 a.m. Friday, June 25, at the Paynesville Area Senior Center, 1105 West Main Street in Paynesville, to discuss the Medicare reform legislation recently passed by Congress. The luncheon speech and discussion is open to all area residents interested in learning more about federal prescription drug legislation. Late last year Congress passed Medicare reform legislation which included prescription drug benefits for senior citizens who are on Medicare. Dayton has been a long-time advocate of providing relief to seniors who are paying exorbitant prices for their presription medicines. He reluctantly voted against the Medicare reform bill saying that it benefits drug companies and HMOs at the expense of Medicare beneficiaries and all American taxpayers. Almost all of the money that Americans spend this year for their health care will go for prescription drugs. Gelbmann will explain at the luncheon the Medicare reform legislation and will outline new initiatives that Dayton will sponsor to provide seniors with the relief they need. He will also answer questions about this legislation and the new prescription drug discount cards.
