Missouri Senior Prescription Plan Heads to Conference Committee

Missouri lawmakers will hold a conference committee to resolve differences between state House and Senate versions of a bill that would create a prescription drug plan for state seniors, CongressDaily/AM reports. Differences in the plan include enrollment periods, a state Senate provision to end the program in 2005 unless it is renewed and the size of a Medicaid expansion required by law. After a "daylong debate" on Sept. 13, the state Senate voted to appropriate $15 million to expand Medicaid, which then sent the bill to conference (CongressDaily/AM, 9/17). Seniors in two income "categories" would be covered under the plan. Individuals earning $12,000 or less and couples with incomes of $17,000 or less would compose the first group, and singles earning $17,000 or less and couples with incomes of $23,000 or less would compose the second group. Seniors in the lower income bracket would pay a $25 annual enrollment fee and a $250 deductible, while those in 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 age 65. The drug benefit has been estimated by some state officials to cost $100 million annually (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/14).