Posted on 03/01/2004 3:51:37 PM PST by yonif
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Senate leaders proposed Monday that the state help bridge a coverage gap in a new federal prescription drug benefit for people 65 and older.
The legislation was filed by the chamber's top leaders from both parties - Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and Minority Leader Ken Jacob, D-Columbia.
Kinder and Jacob propose to revamp SenioRx - the state's existing prescription plan for certain older Missourians - to help such citizens meet costs not covered under the federal government's new Medicare prescription plan.
"This is a logical and essential next step in helping seniors with prescription medication costs," Kinder said Monday.
Missouri's SenioRx assists people 65 and older who exceed the income guidelines for the state's Medicaid program but cannot afford private prescription coverage. About 19,000 people are currently enrolled in SenioRx.
The federal Medicare prescription benefit for senior citizens goes into effect in 2006. Participants will pay a monthly premium plus the first $250 in annual prescription costs, and Medicare will cover 75 percent of the next $2,000.
But there will be no coverage for prescriptions totaling between $2,250 and $5,100. Medicare will cover 95 percent of amounts higher than $5,100.
The legislation filed Monday targets that middle ground - $2,250 to $5,100 - and provides that the state would cover 75 percent for qualified senior citizens.
"The senior will fall through the hole. What we're trying to do is plug the hole," Jacob said.
The state program would be available to individuals 65 and older with incomes between 150 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which for 2004 would amount to $13,965 to $18,620. The qualifying income would be revised according to the number of people in a household.
The plan would also pick up coverage for those making less than $13,965 who fail a federal asset test and thus don't qualify for the more generous Medicare drug benefits.
Kinder and Jacob stressed that their plan will not cost the state any more money. They said the projected $13.9 million cost in the first year would be roughly what the state is spending now for SenioRx, which would expire.
Jacob said nearly 107,000 seniors would be eligible for the state coverage to fill the gap, but that he expected only about 18 percent, or 19,000, to participate.
Gov. Bob Holden and Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell had called for the state to find a way to fill in that gap in November, and both said Monday they supported the legislation.
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Prescription benefit bill is SB 1371.
On the Net:
Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us
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