Medicare officials step up drug benefit enrollment efforts

Medicare officials and their private sector partners are redoubling efforts to get seniors to sign up for the new prescription drug benefit before the May 15 deadline, after which beneficiaries' costs go up.

"Time is short," Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Mark McClellan said Wednesday during the announcement of the "Medicare Rx Get Enrolled Week" beginning Monday.

During that week, Medicare experts will hold events at pharmacies, churches, senior centers and other venues aimed at encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to sign up before drug co-payments rise.

Members of Congress, many of whom are spending the two-week Easter recess in their districts, also plan to hold enrollment events, organizers said. About 29.5 million of Medicare's 42.5 million enrollees have signed up for the benefit, McClellan said.