Iowa Seniors Still Waiting for Prescription Drug Program to Take Effect

Ten months after Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told the state's senior citizens that they would implement a "price club" to help them save on prescription medications, seniors are still waiting for the program, the Des Moines Register report. Vilsack, Harkin and other program organizers are "ask[ing] for patience," however, because they want to avoid the "legal snags" that other states' programs have experienced. Under Iowa's program, a not-for-profit co-op would negotiate prices with drug companies, rather than "forcing them to give discounts." Seniors would pay about $40 per year to participate. The pharmaceutical industry "seems to like" Iowa's plan, the Register reports. According to organizers, the program might not take effect until at least October. In addition, they say the program "probably will not offer the kind of huge discounts promised when the plan was announced," the Register reports. Previously, Harkin said that seniors would see "significant price drops" in the price of medications. For example, he said that the price of the "cholesterol-fighting" drug Zocor could drop from $114 to just under $35. Pharmacists and drug manufacturers, however, said Harkin's claim is "unlikely," adding that a 10% to 20% discount is "more realistic." The amount of savings is linked to how many seniors sign up for the program, the Register reports. Approximately 300,000 Iowans are eligible, and Vilsack said he hopes 45,000 to 50,000 seniors will join (Lee, Des Moines Register, 7/2).