(March 22, 2006) Huntington Park, CA - Representatives from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pulled up to the Oldtimers Foundation in Huntington Park recently in a special Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage outreach bus to help seniors enroll in Medicare's new prescription drug benefit that started January 1. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard was also on hand to distribute information to assist the seniors with the selection process and to urge them to carefully research the available options before making a choice. In order to expedite the process, volunteer counselors assisted Medicare beneficiaries on computers in the foundation’s center and inside the bus. Medicare beneficiaries have until May 15 to enroll in the new program without incurring a one percent per month premium surcharge and to receive benefits in 2006. For coverage starting in 2007, open enrollment begins November 15. More information is available by contacting the Center for Health Care Rights in Los Angeles at 1-800-824-0780 or the congresswoman’s district office at (213) 628-9230. Pictured in the photo: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (center in blue blazer); George Cole, CEO of the Oldtimers Foundation (second on right); Jeff Flick, CMS Regional Administrator (far right).