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Broadband Bus Helps Alabama Seniors Enroll in Medicare

December 11, 2008 By News Report

The mobile broadband center --- a bus with 15 computers connected by satellite to high-speed Internet -- will roll into Choctaw and Clarke counties during the next few days to help Alabama senior citizens compare Medicare plans and enroll for the one that best suits their needs, Governor Bob Riley announced yesterday.

Seniors visiting the "Broadband Bus" at one of two free open enrollment events will receive one-on-one counseling from the Alabama Department of Senior Service's State Health Insurance Assistance Program as they compare Medicare plans.

"Seniors will be able to get personalized help and leave with the information they need more quickly than ever before thanks to this special effort," said Riley. "This is another example of the benefits that broadband can bring to citizens in rural Alabama. We must expand broadband service to every community in Alabama, and we will continue working toward that goal."

Until now, comparing Medicare plans in many rural Alabama communities consisted of meeting with a counselor followed by days of waiting for printed information. Because high-speed Internet access, or broadband, is not available in many rural areas, counselors took paper applications back to their offices, input the information into Medicare plan comparison software and then sent the results back to the individual by mail.

The broadband access provided by the mobile broadband center means seniors will be able to actually take the needed information home with them after talking with a counselor.

"Seniors rely heavily on assistance in comparing all the Medicare plans to ensure they choose the best one for their situation," explained Irene Collins, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Citizens. "Without initiatives such as this, our seniors may miss out on programs and services that are vital to their well-being."

The high-tech bus is usually used as a mobile workforce training center, traveling to plants when they announce layoffs to help workers apply for assistance.

The two free open enrollment events from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will be held as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 11

Butler Senior Center (Choctaw County)
114 Tom Orr Drive
Phone: 251-459-4442

Monday, Dec. 15

Jackson Senior Center (Clarke County)
324 Vanity Fair Park Drive
Phone: 251-247-1300

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Congress Approves E-Prescribing Initiative in Medicare Reform Bill

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Until recently, there was no alternative to the familiar desktop computer, and its expensive upgrades and maintenance requirements. For cash-strapped local governments, the desktop computer is quickly becoming an unsustainable option for future progress. Now, a technology known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) offers an alternative. It can be significantly more affordable than buying individual computers for every employee, and it provides similar capability. This paper shows how VDI is the future of the desktop and is a game-changer for local governments.

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