Nevada Governor’s Signing of Updated Senior Rx Leads Health Policy Report Prescription Drug Round Up

The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report rounds up legislative action on prescription drugs in three states:

• Nevada: Gov. Kenny Guinn (R) on June 13 signed into law a measure (SB 539) that updates the state's existing prescription drug program for seniors, Senior Rx (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/13). The existing Senior Rx consisted of two plans open to seniors with annual incomes of less than $13,000: Nevada Blue has a $74.46 monthly premium and offers primarily generic drugs, while Nevada Silver has a $98.31 monthly premium and covers more brand name drugs ( Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/12/00). Under the new law, Senior Rx will consist of a single plan that allows seniors earning less than $21,500 a year to be eligible for up to $5,000 in prescriptions annually with copays of $10 for generic drugs and $25 for brand-name prescriptions. The state would use tobacco settlement funds to pay an annual premium of $1,280 each year per senior to insurance companies, which would provide the drug coverage (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/23). The updated program is expected to cost the state $6.5 million annually (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/13).
• Virginia: Virginia Gov. James Gilmore (R) on June 11 announced that he "found" $371,000 in the state budget needed to sustain Pharmacy Connect, a not-for-profit prescription drug assistance program operating in southwestern Virginia, the AP/Newport News Daily Press reports. The program was created last year to help area residents "tap into" free prescription drug programs from "major" pharmaceutical firms (AP/Newport News Daily Press, 6/12).
• Wisconsin: The state Senate Joint Finance Committee last week approved a budget plan that included $44 million in funding for a prescription drug assistance program for state seniors, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Although the committee has not specified the details of the program, some lawmakers have advocated funding the plan with an increase in the state cigarette tax. Under the plan backed by state Senate Democrats, seniors earning nearly 300% FPL -- or up to $25,050 annually for individuals and $33,750 annually for couples -- would qualify. The plan, which would cost $103 million per year, is "all but certain to pass" the Senate, where the Democrats are in the majority. However, Republicans in the Assembly have crafted an alternate plan that would cost $50 million per year and would offer assistance to seniors earning about 180% FPL, or annual incomes up to $15,448 for singles and $20,813 for couples (Chaptman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/11).