There's another plea to save Wisconsin's prescription drug program for seniors, which is set to expire in June.
Tom Frazier, Executive Director of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, wants the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to either improve Medicare Part D or continue the federal waiver for SeniorCare. "Wisconsin did it right. SeniorCare was developed — the concept of the program — was developed by advocates and consumers, not by drug companies and insurance companies."
More than 105,000 seniors are enrolled in Wisconsin's SeniorCare program, which Democrats and Republicans in our state agree is cost-effective, comprehensive and uncomplicated. The prescription drug program for seniors is funded with both federal and state dollars. But, because of Medicare Part D, the federal government wants to discontinue its funding of SeniorCare.
84-year-old Bette Linton of Fitchburg recently broke her leg, and now relies more on costly prescription drugs. "And you know when you get older, if you're Social Security doesn't cover things, it's your kids that will have to come forward and pay the bills for you."
Linton says her prescription drugs got too expensive on Medicare so her son had to pick up the tab, that is, until she found out about SeniorCare, or as she calls it, "The Magic Card," which decreased her prescription drug costs dramatically.
Currently our SeniorCare program continues to exist only because of a federal waiver. Another waiver extension request was submitted to extend SeniorCare until June of 2010.
(Photo: Bette Linton shows off her SeniorCare card, which she calls her "magic card," as it saves her a lot of money on necessary prescription drugs.)