ElderWeb

Both the Florida House and Senate have unanimously passed S940-The Prescription Affordability Act for Seniors, a bill to provide pharmaceutical assistance to the elderly in Florida. The act is a catastrophic pharmaceutical expense assistance program for people who qualify for limited assistance under the Florida Medicaid program as a result of being dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, but whose limited assistance or Medicare coverage does not include any pharmacy benefit. Specifically eligible are low-income senior citizens who are Florida residents age 65 and over, who have an income between 90% and 120% of the federal poverty level, who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, who are not enrolled in a Medicare health maintenance organization that provides a pharmacy benefit, and who request to be enrolled in the program.

As a condition of participation in the Florida Medicaid Program or the pharmaceutical expense assistance program, a pharmacy must agree to charge any individual who is a Medicare beneficiary and who is a Florida resident showing a Medicare card when they present a prescription a price no greater than the cost of ingredients equal to the average wholesale price minus 9%, and a dispensing fee of $4.50.

The program will be administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in consultation with the Department of Elderly Affairs (DOEA).