ANN ARBOR—In her part-time work as a retail pharmacist, Carrie Mulvahill had five people ask for her help in picking a drug-coverage plan under the new Medicare Part D program” all in just one week.

In response to that kind of need, Mulvahill and Christina Chi, doctoral students at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, are planning a workshop April 27 with pharmacy students helping senior citizens sort through which of the numerous available government plans will best cover their prescriptions.

“It’s quite confusing,” Chi said.” I’m a pharmacy student and it took me a long time to understand. You can see why people would have questions about what to do.”

Medicare, the nation’s largest health insurance program, covers nearly 40 million Americans. Medicare serves people 65 and older, some disabled people under 65, and people with end-stage renal disease. Medicare began offering drug coverage Jan. 1.

Nancy Mason, clinical associate professor of pharmacy, initially recruited students to help senior citizens untangle Medicare Part D, the new program this year to cover seniors’ prescriptions. She invited Medicare representatives to the college for a half-day training session to teach students how to assess a patient’s sometimes-lengthy list of prescriptions and choose the plan that offers them the best coverage.

Armed with laptop computers, the students learned to key in patient medications to find the best plan. Then they volunteered to help at Plan D information days at about a dozen pharmacies around Ann Arbor.

Still, Mulvahill and Chi wanted to do more. They wanted to arrange an event that was independent of any specific pharmacy, so any area seniors with questions could get help before the looming May 15 Plan D enrollment deadline.

Helping one patient select a drug coverage plan can take up to an hour, depending on the complexity of the person’s needs, so the students said it can be difficult for busy pharmacists to take the time to step through all the necessary questions, particularly if other customers are waiting.

So they wanted to pitch in, and they expect about 20 students signed on to do the same.

“A lot of us work in a retail pharmacy setting, so we’re encountering this all the time,” said Chi, who works part time at a CVS pharmacy.” A lot of students who don’t usually get involved are volunteering because they see the need.”

Chi and Mulvahill both have one more year to go before graduation. They say if people are unable to attend the workshop, they’ll be happy to offer advice by e-mail. Once people sign on for a Plan D program, they are allowed to switch during an open enrollment period. Email Chi at Christina.chi@gmail.com or Mulvahill at carrilyn@umich.edu.

EVENT: University of Michigan student pharmacists will help seniors find the Medicare Part D plan that best covers their medications. Seniors should bring their Medicare cards and lists of their medications.

DATE: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 27, 2006

PLACE: Ann Arbor Public Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor.

CONTACT: Christina Chi, Christina.chi@gmail.com, or Carrie Mulvahill carrilyn@umich.edu, (810) 338-6266.

SPONSOR: University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.

WEB LINK: Medicare Part D: http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/drugbenefit.asp