Wisconsin Senate Passes Prescription Plan; Bill Faces Opposition From GOP-Led Assembly

The Wisconsin state Senate on Feb. 12 approved the Wisconsin Care program (SB 1), a plan that would provide drug coverage for low-income seniors, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Individuals ages 65 and older with annual incomes of no more than $25,000 for singles and $33,750 for couples would be eligible to participate in the plan. Seniors would pay an annual fee of $20 and a $500 deductible. After the deductible, beneficiaries would contribute a $10 copayment for brand name drugs and $5 for generic ones. The program, which would cost the state an estimated $106 million per year, would provide prescription coverage to about 335,000 seniors, who would save about $920 each per year. Plan sponsor state Sen. Judy Robson (D) said, "We have a five-alarm emergency, a public health emergency." While the plan passed the Democratic-controlled Senate on a 20-13 vote, it is expected to face opposition in the GOP-controlled Assembly. Assembly Majority Leader Steven Foti (R) said the lower chamber felt "no urgency" to act on the matter, particularly because Gov. Scott McCallum (R) is expected to include a prescription plan in his budget proposal. The Journal Sentinel reports that the governor's plan would cover only those seniors who "need it the most" and would cost $14 million per year. Single seniors earning $15,448 annually and couples earning $20,800 annually would be eligible to participate under McCallum's plan. Democrats, however, are pushing for SB 1, saying an "emergency" exists. Mike Grotefend, the acting president of the state's AARP, said that SB 1 is the "only plan that would provide meaningful relief." He added, "What we should be asking ourselves is, how can we not afford to help more seniors live healthy, independent lives. Any way you look at it, this situation is a five-alarm public health emergency, and that's how we need to attack it" (Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/13).