Nevada Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program Grows in Popularity

After a "sluggish start," Senior Rx, Nevada's prescription drug assistance program for low-income seniors, has now reached more than 80% of the "full quota" for participation, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. As of Dec. 1, 5,001 residents had enrolled in Senior Rx, compared with fewer than 300 participants last spring. Mike Hillerby, Gov. Kenny Guinn's (R) deputy chief of staff, said the state hopes to reach the 6,000-participant ceiling by next month. Once the program reaches the enrollment ceiling, the state will create a waiting list. At that point, Senior Rx is expected to cost Nevada $7.6 million per year. The increase in enrollment is mostly due to changes the state Legislature made to the program earlier this year. Critics had said the original program was too "confusi[ng]" because it included several coverage options and "upfront costs of at least $34 per month" per participant (Morrison, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/10). Under the revised Senior Rx program, which took effect in July, seniors earning less than $21,500 per year are eligible to have up to $5,000 in prescription costs covered per year. Participants pay $10 per generic drug prescription and $25 per brand-name prescription. The program is run by a private insurance company, and the state covers an annual premium of $1,280 per senior (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/23). Hillerby said that as soon as the program costs lessened for participants, "it became a lot easier to understand" (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/10).