PA Governor Rendell Announces Resignation of Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower

"Nora has been a strong, outspoken advocate for our state's 2.5 million older adults, working hard to improve the level and quality of services offered to seniors acrossPennsylvania," said Governor Rendell.

"Nora helped to spearhead our administration's historic 2003 expansion of the PACE/PACENET prescription assistance programs and led the 2006 effort to coordinate the programs with Medicare Part D. Her efforts have resulted in enhancements to PACE and PACENET while saving more than $700 million. She leaves with 120,000 additional older adults enrolled in PACE/PACENET, bringing total enrollment to 430,000."

"The opportunity to serve older people and their families with my colleagues at the Department of Aging is the best job I ever had," said Dowd Eisenhower. "I am confident that our accomplishments will continue to strengthen the state's aging service network for many years to come."

During Dowd Eisenhower's tenure,Pennsylvania has worked to ensure that the state's growing population of older consumers will be able to receive long-term living services in the setting they want the most -- at home in their own communities.

Dowd Eisenhower has advocated for increased opportunities for older people to give back to the communities they want to remain in for as long as possible. She has tirelessly promoted intergenerational civic engagement and volunteer opportunities focused on meeting the needs of others as a path for older Pennsylvanians to retain their health and vitality.

Dowd Eisenhower also initiated a groundbreaking program to help doctors choose the most clinically appropriate medications for PACE/PACENET enrollees. Under the Independent Drug Information Service (iDiS), a dozen specially trained drug information consultants visit physicians to present evidence-based data on prescribing the most appropriate medications for program enrollees. Research shows that this small, personal interaction can have a positive effect on physician prescribing patterns.

Dowd Eisenhower also has enhanced the Department of Aging's outreach to underserved populations and has initiated comprehensive efforts to prepare the state's 52 Area Agencies on Aging for the unique demands of serving members of the Baby Boomer generation.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT:

Chuck Ardo

717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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