Missouri Lawmakers Expect Session to End Sept. 14 With Passage of Senior Prescription Plan

Missouri lawmakers expect the Legislature's special session to end Sept. 14 with the passage of a new senior drug plan, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Ganey, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/13). The state House on Sept. 10 gave preliminary approval to a prescription drug plan for seniors that would offer benefits to those without private or supplemental insurance coverage (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/12). The final language of the benefit is not yet written, but the Post-Dispatch reports that seniors in two income "categories" would be covered -- individuals earning $12,000 or less and couples with incomes of $17,000 or less would be in the first group, and singles earning $17,000 or less and couples with incomes of $23,000 or less would receive coverage in the second group. Seniors in the lower income bracket would pay a $25 annual enrollment fee and a $250 deductible. The higher income bracket would pay a $35 enrollment fee and a $500 deductible. Once seniors contribute the deductible, the state would pay 60% of their remaining drug costs. The bill would also repeal a $200 tax credit for those over 65. The drug benefit is estimated by some officials to cost $100 million per year. State Sen. Marvin Singleton (R) and state Rep. Mark Abel (D) said they expect the differences between the House and Senate versions of the plan to be reconciled. Abel said, "The differences in language are small enough that I don't think we'll have trouble getting together" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/13).