Prescription Advantage, the state sponsored drug program that helps low income seniors and those with disabilities pay for pre-scription drugs, will NOT be holding an open enrollment in January of 2004, as originally announced. More than 8,000 seniors enrolled last August, bringing participation in the program to about 87,000 and further enrollments would push spending over the limit set by the Legislature. The next open enrollment is expected to take place in April of 2004, but has not been officially announced.

Some individuals may enroll outside of open enrollment (i.e., now). They are:

• those just turning 65 or the newly disabled;
• those who moved to Massa-chusetts within the last six months;
• those who involuntarily lost their health care coverage; or
• those who recently became in-eligible for Medicaid.

Contact Prescription Advantage at 1-800-AGE-INFO with additional questions.

Also of note, according to "Health on the Hill: A Publication of the House Committee on Health Care" (12/18/03), the new "Medicare prescription drug program leaves the future of the ...Prescription Advantage program uncertain... Governor Mitt Romney said in September his administration would support funding for the program until a federal prescription drug benefit is offered. States will not have access to federal matching funds to offer additional prescription drug assistance, and states will have to use their own funds for such programs. Massachusetts residents receiving drug benefits under Medicaid will automatically switch to the Medicare program in January, 2006."