PBS’ ‘HealthWeek’ Examines State Medicare Prescription Drug Programs

Last week, PBS' "HealthWeek," produced in cooperation with the Kaiser Family Foundation, focused on state programs to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. AARP Director of State Affairs Cheryl Matheis said that although 30 states have enacted Medicare pharmaceutical assistance programs, the benefits offered "vary widely." For example, under Illinois' Circuit Breaker program -- so named because it was originally established to help seniors pay their electric bills -- couples with incomes under $28,000 pay a yearly fee of up to $25 and receive $2,000 annually in assistance on medications for chronic conditions. After they reach $2,000, beneficiaries pay 20% of drug costs. Pennsylvania has one of the oldest drug assistance programs in the nation. State Secretary of Aging Richard Browdie said he thinks of Pennsylvania's PACE program as "the sort of gold standard" because it is "simple ... and generous." According to Browdie, PACE is "very easy to enroll in" and has no premiums. However, state Senator Michael O'Pake (D) said that PACE "misses many seniors" because of the "tight" income restrictions (PBS, "HealthWeek," 2/1). PACE covers drug costs for seniors with annual incomes of less than $14,000 per year for singles and $17,200 or less for couples. Participating seniors pay a $6 copayment per drug (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 1/16). Urban Institute health researcher Jane Tilly, who recently evaluated six state programs, including those in Illinois and Pennsylvania, said that although the federal government can "learn a lot" from states' experiences, one "common problem" is that seniors are often unaware of state prescription drug coverage. Tilly added that states have learned they must "make tradeoffs between containing costs and getting good comprehensive coverage to people who are in need." A complete transcript of the show is available online. A video clip of the segment also is available online (PBS, "HealthWeek," 2/1).