Clarification: Oct. 5 & 25 Medicare meetings not public information sessions

ATLANTA - Officials with the North Health District office in Gainesville said Tuesday the Oct. 5 and Oct. 25 Medicare information sessions planned in Gainesville are for health department employees only and not the general public. But, the one at Lakeshore Mall Oct. 18 is for the public.<br> <br> The Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services' GeorgiaCares program is holding information sessions around the state to inform beneficiaries how they can save money on their medications under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.<br> <br> &#34;Our GeorgiaCares staff and volunteers at the Area Agencies on Aging throughout Georgia are on the road, holding community education sessions about the new prescription drug coverage and other Medicare benefits and services,&#34; said Vicki Mikels, coordinator of Georgia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which is administered through GeorgiaCares. &#34;And, they're answering thousands of calls to our statewide hotline at 1-800-669-8387.&#34; GeorgiaCares helps beneficiaries understand Medicare, its benefits and services, and how they can save money on their prescription drugs. <br> <br> The sessions for Gainesville are planned for:<br> <br> * October 5, 2005, 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Hall County Health Department, 1290 Athens St., Gainesville. HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ONLY.<br> <br> *October 18, 2005, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Colonial Lakeshore Mall, 150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville. FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.<br> <br> *October 25, 2005, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Hall County Health Department, 1290 Athens St., Gainesville. HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ONLY.<br> <br> The new prescription and preventive services benefits are available to all people with Medicare. Those with lower incomes