The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a national education campaign at a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday, October 19 in room 305-A of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave, SW.

Participating in the news conference will be Tom Scully, CMS Administrator, and Dr. Beatrice Braun, a member of AARP's Board of Directors.

The campaign includes the mailing of the Medicare & You 2002 handbook to 34 million Medicare beneficiaries' homes and features Medicare's first national television ads. The annual education effort highlights important coverage options and Medicare's improved information resources, including the expanded 24-hour a day, 7 days a week service of 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and new decision tools on www.medicare.gov. Each of the campaign components informs people with Medicare about health care options and offers information to help them make informed decisions.