Republican says Walker's proposal for SeniorCare is dead
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Gov. Scott Walkers proposal to require enrollees in the popular SeniorCare prescription drug program to first sign up for Medicare Part D coverage is dead, the Republican co-chair of the Legislatures budget committee said Thursday.
Walkers idea ran into bipartisan opposition in the Legislature, and the AARP and other groups representing senior citizens strongly disapproved of it. They feared the changes would increase costs for prescription drugs making it difficult for cash-strapped older people to make ends meet.
It marks the second time in five years that Walkers proposed changes to the program for those over age 65 appear to be going nowhere.
Walker, who is expected to run for president, was in Arizona meeting with Republican lawmakers there on Thursday. His spokeswoman, Laurel Patrick, said Walker is willing to work with the Legislature and other stakeholders to ensure seniors have affordable access to the prescription drugs they need while effectively utilizing both state and federal resources.
Just because there isnt support in the Legislature for what Walker proposed, it doesnt mean there wont be changes made to SeniorCare, Rep. John Nygren, the Republican co-chairman of the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee, told The Associated Press.
I wouldnt say changes are off the table, Nygren, of Marinette, said of SeniorCare. But he said the current structure of the program will be maintained. SeniorCare members whose annual income is less than $18,832 pay $30 per year, as well as co-pays of $5 for generic drugs and $15 for brand name drugs. Costs increase along with a persons income.
Maintaining a low cost is definitely a goal, Nygren said.
Supporters say the state program is less expensive and easier to enroll in and to understand than Medicare Part D. Because SeniorCare is an alternative to Medicare Part D, under Walkers proposal thousands of seniors not yet enrolled in the federal program would have had to switch and likely would have faced higher fees.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos remains open to making changes affecting new enrollees but not the roughly 85,000 people already in the program, said his spokeswoman Kit Beyer.
Democratic Rep. Andy Jorgensen, of Milton, has led the charge to protect SeniorCare. He said Nygrens statements Thursday show that Republicans are feeling the public pressure to maintain the program unchanged.
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Republican says Walker's proposal for SeniorCare is dead