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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) will return to central Oregon on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, hosting events and meetings in Crook and Deschutes Counties to meet with area residents. In addition to his free workshop on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, Walden, co-chair of the bipartisan House Rural Health Care Coalition, will meet with local pharmacies and visit the new La Pine Senior Center to discuss health care and other issues impacting senior citizens in the region. This visit is part of Walden’s 267th round trip between Oregon and Washington, D.C. and his 15th visit to Crook County and 64th visit to Deschutes County since taking office in 1999. His schedule is as follows:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
PRINEVILLE
7:30 – 8:30 AM: Congressman Walden will meet with local pharmacists – both independent and those affiliated with chain drug stores – throughout central Oregon to discuss prescription drug coverage under the new Medicare prescription drug plan. At Walden’s invitation, Health and Human Services (HHS) Region X Director James Whitfield and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Region X Outreach & Education Coordinator Andrew Tartella, will join him at the meeting.
9:00 – 11:00 AM: In an effort to help central Oregon seniors better understand the new Medicare prescription drug program as the enrollment deadline – May 15 – approaches, Congressman Walden will host a free workshop open to area seniors and their loved ones. Joining Walden at the workshop will be HHS Director Whitfield and representatives from the Central Oregon Council on Aging and the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. Following an educational presentation at the beginning of the workshop, one-on-one enrollment counseling conducted by trained SHIBA volunteers will be available for those interested. Additionally, information on various plan options will be made available by plan providers. The workshop will last until noon.
LA PINE
Noon – 1:30 PM: Walden will join area seniors for lunch at the new La Pine Senior Center, for which he helped secure federal investments, to discuss the new Medicare prescription drug program and other issues of concern to residents. Following a congressional update, Walden will take questions from attendees. This will also be an opportunity for Walden, who participated in the groundbreaking ceremony last July, to tour the new facility since its grand opening early this week.
Congressman Walden is in his fourth term representing the people of Oregon’s Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in southern, central and eastern Oregon. He is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Resources. |
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