WASHINGTON DC USA -- HEALTHCARE UPDATE NEWS SERVICE(TM) -- OCTOBER 26, 2006: The Third Annual National Medicare Congress, www.MedicareCongress.com, which was held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel on October 15 -17, 2006 in Washington, DC announced today that two media platforms are available with the full content of the Congress:

• A CD-ROM which includes video and synchronized PowerPoint slides for all plenary sessions and audio and PowerPoint slides for all concurrent sessions, and
• A video iPOD preloaded with conference plenary sessions and concurrent sessions audio.

The CD-ROM offers plenary session video with synchronized PowerPoint slides and concurrent sessions audio.

Easily navigate using your computer to the presenter and the exact content you wish to view.

CD-ROM Price: $295 - More info - Order Now!

Alternatively receive a new Video iPOD preloaded with Congress content.

Get Apple's Video iPOD yet, pre-loaded with the complete video of the Plenary sessions from the Medicare Congress held on October 15 -17, 2006 (please note that the video on the iPODs does not include synchronized PowerPoint slides).

Video iPOD Price: $495 - More info - Order Now!

Order both the CD-ROM video content and the Video iPOD.

CD-ROM and Video iPOD Price: $575 - More info - Order Now!

The National Medicare Congress features the following session on Medicare Part D:

• Medicare Drug Benefit Primer
• Beneficiary Experience and Satisfaction with the Medicare Drug Benefit
• Affordability of the Medicare Drug Benefit
• The Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of the Medicare Drug Benefit
• Business Strategy in the Medicare Market: The Manufacturer Perspective
• Business Strategy in the Medicare Market: The PBM Perspective
• Access to Pharmaceuticals in the Medicare Drug Benefit
• The Evolving Role of States and Medicaid in the Medicare Drug Benefit
• Evaluation of the Medicare Drug Benefit from the Right and Left
• Medicare Drug Benefit Marketing and Enrollment
• Measuring Plan Performance in the Medicare Drug Benefit
• Marketplace Assessment of Drug Plan Options: PDPs vs. MA-PDs
• Health Information Technology's Role in Accessing Drugs and Improving Quality
• Impact of the Medicare Drug Benefit on Long-Term Care Facilities and Their Residents

Joseph R. Antos Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC David Beier Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Amgen Washington, DC Carolyn Clancy, MD Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Rockville, MD John Coster, RPh, Ph.D. Vice President of Policy and Programs National Association of Chain Drug Stores Washington, DC Nancy-Ann DeParle Partner, CCMP Capital Former Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration Washington, DC Herb Kuhn Director, Center for Medicare Management Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Baltimore, MD Michael O. Leavitt (Invited) Secretary of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services Washington, DC Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Former Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration Washington, DC Tricia Neuman, ScD Vice President and Director, Medicare Policy Project Kaiser Family Foundation Washington, DC

Ron Pollack Founding Executive Director, Families USA Founder and Chair, Health Assistance Partnership Washington, DC John Rother, Esq. Director of Policy and Strategy, AARP Former Staff Director and Chief Counsel Special Committee on Aging United States Senate Washington, DC Julie Rovner Health Policy Correspondent, National Public Radio Author, Health Care Politics and Policy A-Z Special Correspondent, National Journal's Congress Daily Contributing Editor, Business and Health Washington, DC David B. Snow, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Franklin Lakes, NJ Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) Ranking Democrat, Health Subcommittee, Ways and Means Committee United States House of Representatives Washington, DC Kathleen Harrington Director, Office of External Affairs Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Washington, DC Mark E. Miller, Ph.D. Executive Director, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Former Assistant Director of Health and Human Resources, Congressional Budget Office Former Deputy Director of Health Plans, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Washington, DC

MEDICARE CONGRESS CO CHAIRS:

Robert Atlas, MBA Senior Vice President, Avalere Health LLC, Former President and Chief Operating Officer, Lewin Group, Washington, DC John Iglehart Founding Editor, Health Affairs, National Correspondent, New England Journal of Medicine, Washington, DC

Dan Mendelson President and Founder, Avalere Health, Former Associate Director for Health, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC Thomas Scully Senior Counsel, Alston & Bird, Senior Adviser, Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe, Former Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, DC

MEDICARE CONGRESS OVERVIEW:

Medicare is at a critical juncture in its evolution. Market dynamics, policy changes, and public sentiment are likely to shift the Part D landscape. Managed care is on the rise, once again. And, Medicare fee-for-service is being transformed. How will the pharmaceutical and managed care industries respond? How will the patient-physician dynamic change? How will Part D fare in 2007?

Medicare beneficiaries, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations (MCOs), pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), state Medicaid programs, healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and research organizations will be influential in shaping the future direction of the drug program and broader changes to the Medicare. Join national thought leaders from each of these sectors for the Third National Medicare Congress, where Medicare's expansion, evolution, and future direction will be explored. This three-day interactive forum will take place October 15 - 17, 2006 at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC.

FEATURED TOPICS:

• Impact of the Drug Benefit on Patient Care
• Market Based Competition Among Private Plans
• Medicare Fee for Service Trends
• Medicare Reimbursement for Part B
• Dual Eligible and Special Needs Populations
• Health Information Exchange Initiatives in Medicare
• The Role of Technology in Improving Quality in Medicare
• Part D Formularies and Access to Specialty Drugs
• Policy and Business Operations in Part D: Perspectives from the Hill, State, CMS and Plans

HOW TO ORDER MEDICARE CONGRESS MULTIMEDIA:

Order the CD-ROM, Video iPOD or both online at www.medicarecongress.com/cdrom2006/cdinfo.html.