A group of University of Pittsburgh departments will sponsor a free public forum April 8 to discuss recent changes to the nation's Medicare system.

"Understanding the Medicare Drug Benefit Plan: Federal, State and Local Perspectives" will be from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 120 of David Lawrence Hall, 3942 Forbes Ave.

Speakers explaining the Medicare changes will be Jeanne Lambrew, a George Washington University associate professor of health policy, and Bruce Stuart, director of the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland.

Panelists include Diane Holder, president of UPMC Health Plan; Patricia Kroboth, interim dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy; Barbara Bush, representing the AARP Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Task Force; and state Rep. Don Walko, D-North Side.

The forum is sponsored by Pitt's Institute on Aging, its Institute of Politics, the University Center for Social and Urban Research and the Health Policy Institute.