SENIORCARE SAVED: TWO-AND-A-HALF YEAR EXTENSION INCLUDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL,
BUSH EXPECTED TO SIGN BILL
SeniorCare to Continue Serving Wisconsin Seniors
through December 31, 2009
May 24, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Emergency Supplemental Spending bill that is
expected to pass both the House and Senate today includes a two-and-a-half
year extension of SeniorCare, allowing Wisconsin's popular senior drug
coverage program to continue through December 31, 2009.
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold negotiated
for inclusion of the provision in the Senate bill, while Congressman
Dave Obey (WI-07) served as the principal House negotiator for the
final package that includes it. President Bush has indicated that
he will sign the bill into law, which also includes funding for disaster
aid, veterans' health, agricultural disasters, and other emergency
funding.
"The drug coverage that seniors in Wisconsin have come to know
and depend on is going to stay in place," said Senator Kohl.
"The delegation stuck with it, and we got the job done. I couldn't
be more pleased."
"Wisconsin's seniors deserve the best prescription drug program
available, and that program is SeniorCare," Senator Feingold
said. "After hearing from folks in Wisconsin who know and trust
this program, and clearly prefer SeniorCare to the flawed Medicare
Part D program, it was clear we needed to do something. Wisconsin's
seniors are the clear winners with the extension of the successful
SeniorCare program."
"The Administration tried to kill SeniorCare despite the fact
that it is supported by the public, the State Legislature, the Governor
and the entire Wisconsin Congressional delegation," said Congressman
Obey. "I'm glad we were able to overcome their resistance and
ensure that Wisconsin seniors can continue to benefit from SeniorCare."
"SeniorCare saves lives and saves tax dollars. It is the best
prescription drug program in America and should be a model for other
states to follow throughout the nation. Our parents and grandparents
should not be forced to choose between skipping a meal and taking
a pill," said Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. (WI-08)
"Seniors all over Wisconsin tell me what a life-saver the SeniorCare
program is to them, and their interests are our top priority. I applaud
Senators Kohl and Feingold and Rep. Obey for their efforts to save
this landmark program," said Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03). "SeniorCare
has been a pillar of state innovation, saving taxpayers millions of
dollars and providing seniors with affordable prescription drug coverage."
"This extension is a great relief to thousands of Wisconsinites
who have come to rely on SeniorCare and those who can now sign up
for its superior benefits. Our entire delegation was united in its
support for this program, but we owe a particular debt of gratitude
to Senator Kohl and Congressman Obey for their relentless advocacy
to keep SeniorCare alive against intense opposition from the Administration,"
said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (WI-02).
"Hallelujah, sweet success at last," Congresswoman Gwen
Moore (WI-04) said. "Despite the Administration's objections,
Congress has repeatedly voted to extend this critical program and
despite evidence to the contrary, I hold out hope that this will be
the time he signs it into law. Plain and simple, SeniorCare works
for Wisconsin's elderly, works for taxpayers, and offers an excellent
example of how state and federal governments can join together to
help those who need it the most."
The SeniorCare extension was included in the bill by the Supplemental
Conference Committee, of which Senator Kohl and Congressman Obey are
members, because of the savings the program provides the federal government.
Extending SeniorCare through the end of 2009 will amount to $27 million
in savings over five years. This two-and-a-half year extension will
allow Wisconsin a reasonable amount of time to determine the best
course of action to ensure that over 103,000 low-income seniors do
not lose their current prescription drug coverage.
BACKGROUND:
The Administration announced its decision in early April to deny
SeniorCare a three-year waiver that would have allowed it to continue
through 2010. On April 18, Senator Kohl and Wisconsin Governor Jim
Doyle met with Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Mike Leavitt
to request the six-month extension of SeniorCare, which is currently
set to expire June 30, 2007. Though HHS has indicated that it is likely
to do so, it has yet to officially grant SeniorCare the six-month
extension that would enable Wisconsin to create a "wrap-around"
program to ensure that no enrollee goes without drug coverage. After
receiving a score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing
that SeniorCare generates savings for the federal government, Senator
Feingold was instrumental in drafting the initial legislation to extend
the SeniorCare program.
|
