Prescription Drug Information

Mass MedLine-Affordable Prescription Drugs

Mass Medline, known as the Pharmacy Outreach Program, is a free program to assist Massachusetts residents in obtaining affordable prescription drugs and information about their medications. The program is funded by the state and administered through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

This program provides the following free services:

• Assistance with finding programs for free or reduced cost medications.
• Direct assistance in enrolling callers into Medicare Drug Plans, State Prescription programs and related financial assistance applications.
• Patient education and medication review from licensed pharmacists.
• Hands-on case management from caring professionals who will assist callers from start to finish.
• Statewide outreach and education programs.

What you should know about Mass MedLine

• This is a statewide, toll-free help line for prescription information and assistance offering over $10 million in savings for Massachusetts residents each year.
• Mass MedLine is staffed by pharmacists, case managers and client care representatives.
• Mass MedLine is located at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 25 Foster Street, Worcester, MA.

Questions? Call toll-free (866) 633-1617, Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm.

Medicare D Prescription Drug Plans

Your senior family member can still join a Medicare Part D plan by enrolling in Prescription Advantage, the pharmacy assistance program. Medicare allows Prescription Advantage members to join a Medicare plan without having to wait until next November. Depending on income and the Medicare prescription drug plan chosen, Prescription Advantage may pay all or part of a Medicare prescription drug plan’s monthly premium, deductible and drug co-pays. For more information, please call 1-800-243-4636. 

If your senior is just becoming eligible for Medicare, or if he or she loses health insurance, special rules apply. If the senior is on a MassHealth plan, he or she can change drug plans any month.

If you need help with any aspect of health insurance, including Medicare Part D, Prescription Advantage and the Medicare Advantage Plans, call 1-800-AGE-INFO for a confidential SHINE appointment with a volunteer. When you get the answering machine, leave your name and number and the volunteer will call you back as soon as possible.

If you need help with your insurance, SHINE offers free counseling. Call the COA office at 508-651-7858 and ask for a SHINE appointment.  If you prefer, you can contact a SHINE counselor directly by calling (781) 453-8076. If you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A counselor will return your call.

SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) is coordinated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in partnership with the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and other local agencies.