Use BenefitsCheckup.org to screen for programs in your area. If you don't have a computer, ask a friend or family member to help you do an online Benefits Checkup. The service asks you a series of questions about where you live, your income, and a number of other qualifications, and matches you up with programs that can provide help with medications among a menu of other valuable benefits. .If signed into law, the PRIME Act would take a number of steps to prevent and reduce fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Among other things, it would enact stronger fraud penalties, curb mistaken payments by the agencies, phase out the ineffective "pay and chase" practice, reduce the theft of physician identities, and improve the sharing of fraud data among states, agencies, and programs. .U.S. law requires that, in order to meet the requirements, ANP beneficiaries must "establish physical presence" in the United States to receive benefits. One of the easiest options is to "enter the U.S. for any part of 1 day before 30 days elapse." .Unfortunately, a long-time TSCL goal of reducing prescription drug prices did not make it into the newly introduced House bill. It appears that, as we have written before, legislation to reduce drug prices will not be dealt with until sometime in the fall. .The House-Senate conference committee reached a deal this week to extend the payroll tax break and unemployment benefits, and prevent a 27% pay cut to Medicare physicians. The agreement came after months of debate and only after Republicans dropped their requirement that the payroll tax extension be offset by spending cuts. .In addition, the agreements allow workers who split their careers in two or more nations to combine or "totalize" work credits from both countries. That allows them to become eligible for retirement benefits proportional to the amount of credits earned in either country. Although the U.S. has 24 such totalization agreements, most are with countries like the U.K. and Canada that have economies similar to ours. At issue in totalization with Mexico is whether millions of immigrants who have worked in this country without legal work authorization, along with their family dependents, would become eligible for U.S. Social Security benefits under the agreement. .By Rick Delaney, Chairman of the Board, TSCL .The federal government negotiates prescription drug prices for Medicaid and for veterans, but it is barred from negotiating lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. As a result, senior citizens enrolled in Part D often pay much higher prices for their prescriptions. What are you doing to correct this unfair policy? .One new cosponsor also signed on to Rep. Eliot Engel's (NY-16) Guaranteed 3% COLA Act (H.R. 1585) this week. His bill would ensure that the annual COLA is no less than 3 percent. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17) signed on, and he is the bill's first cosponsor.