New year will ring in costlier Medicare plans for nation's senior citizens (Detroit News)
Seniors choosing their Medicare plan for 2009 should brace for higher premiums, larger out-of-pocket expenses and less generous prescription drug coverage.

Local news (Pacific Daily News)
Open enrollment for Medicare's prescription drug program, also known as Medicare Part D, will last through Dec. 31. Beneficiaries can enroll in the program, cancel their current plan or switch to a different plan if they are currently enrolled. Informational sessions and counseling is available.

GAO Report Examines Effect Of Part D Expense Cap On Ryan White Grantees (Medical News Today)
"Ryan White Care Act: First-Year Experiences Under the Part D Administrative Expense Cap" (.pdf), Government Accountability Office: The report was conducted to examine the effect of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment and Modernization Act of 2006, which took effect in fiscal year 2007 and capped the amount of money that Part D grantees could spend on administrative services at 10%.