ElderWeb

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced the launch of a new Web site to help Indiana residents find discounted or no-cost prescription drugs. The Web site asks users for age, income and insurance information to determine their eligibility for low-cost drugs. Patients and doctors can enroll in discount programs through the Web site or by calling a toll-free number. Daniels said that he opposes programs that help residents purchase medications from abroad, saying that he didn't want to take the chance that anyone is hurt by counterfeit or expired medications.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that Daniels is a former executive with Eli Lilly and Co., and the web site indicates that it a collaborative effort of a group of pharmaceutical companies and health organizations.

The site is located at http://rxforindiana.org/.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Illinois Department of Revenue (IDR) officials have programmed a special toll-free tax hot line for seniors and the disabled, 1-800-624-2459, so that no one can get through to ask questions more than three times a week. The line is used by people who have questions about the complex circuit-breaker program which provides property tax relief and prescription drug discounts for the elderly and disabled. The Tribune reports that officials of the Department of Revenue said they made the decision to ration calls because the agency lacks resources to adequately staff the hot line. The agency first implemented call rationing in 1998 to limit inquiries from people who bombard the hot line several times a day just to ask where their checks are, and noted that one man from Peoria called the hot line 1,520 times in 45 days. According to the Tribune story, the hot line logged nearly 1.3 million attempts to access it in March, but only 26,317 of those calls were routed to live operators. 62,150 calls went into an automated system that gives answers to frequently asked questions, and more than 90% of incoming calls to the hot line got a busy signal. Officials are also trying to encourage people to use their Web site to reduce the call levels.

A new plan to help low-income elderly in Massachusetts with the cost of prescription drugs started in April of this year. This plan covers all premiums and deductibles for people age 65 or older who are at or below 188% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). People between 188% and 200% of the FPL are eligible for coverage, but will pay premiums and deductibles, based on their income.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration announced that they have published a new guidebook online, called Understanding Prescription Drug Costs. The guide contains information for everyone who needs prescription drugs - whether or not they have health insurance to cover those costs. The purpose of this brochure is to help consumers know what cost-saving options there are and what questions to ask. They point out that the best sources of information to help save money on prescription drugs are physicians, pharmacists, and the customer service or employee benefits office of your health insurance plan. The brochure is a new addition to the extensive information about drugs available on FloridaHealthStat.com, the official source of consumer healthcare information from Florida government health and human service agencies.

New York enacted legislation which significantly enhanced the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program. The program is now available to people age 65 or older with an annual income of $35,000 or less if single, or $50,000 or less if married. The lowest income seniors pay an annual fee of between $8 and $300 dollars to receive medications. Higher income seniors pay an annual deductible of between $517 and $1,715, depending on their income.

Indiana has implemented a new program to help people over age 65 without drug insurance to pay for the cost of prescription medicines. The new program, called HoosierRx, began in September, and is available to people with incomes below $940 a month for single people and $1,266 a month for married couples. Those who qualify can receive refund certificates every three months, starting January 2001. The refunds will cover up to half of those seniors' prescription costs in each quarter, up to $1,000 a year. The program is funded by Indiana's portion of the tobacco settlement.

Despite pharmaceutical industry opposition, the US Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) approved an extension of an existing Medicaid demonstration in the state, allowing a proposed drug discount program to be implemented this January, making Vermont the only state in the nation with a pharmaceutical program as part of Medicare, according to Peter Van Vranken, a health policy analyst for Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

Under the Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP), some 37,550 Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible to buy prescription drugs at discounted prices through the state's Medicaid program. The expanded program also includes 31,350 individuals who are under 300% of the federal poverty level. Individuals who pay a $24 annual enrollment fee will receive a card entitling them to receive a discount on drug purchases at the pharmacy.

State officials estimate that participants eventually will be able to purchase drugs at savings of about 30%. In a letter to HCFA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) challenged Vermont's program on grounds that it would run afoul of Medicaid law. However, the Congressional Research Service later determined that HCFA could grant a waiver without violating Medicaid law.

The Maine Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS) conducted a survey of drug prices in Maine pharmacies, and have made the results of that survey available on the Internet. In addition, they have created an online "Drug Pricing Calculator" which allows consumers to indicate specific combinations of drugs they may need, and the area of the state where they are located. The tool shows the total cost of the drug combinations they selected from each pharmacy in their area.

The governors of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine announced that they have created a multi-state pool for the purchase of prescription drugs. The purchasing pool will include the Medicaid populations from all three states, about 330,000 people. By working together to focus on quality and management efficiency, the three states hope to save an estimated 10% to 15% on their prescription drug programs. The benefits of the combined purchasing pool will be available on a voluntary basis to other groups, including uninsured individuals, and businesses. They released a request for proposals, seeking bids from pharmacy benefits management companies to operate the purchasing pool.

Registration has begun for SILVERxCARD, South Carolina's new $20 million prescription drug plan for the state's poorest elderly. The SilverCard initiative will cut medication costs for the poor who are at least 65, have lived in the state for at least six months, and have no other prescription drug insurance.

Applications will be accepted until December 1. Seniors can call toll- free at (877) 239-5277 to have an enrollment form sent to their home. Local pharmacies, Councils on Aging, doctor's offices, libraries and legislative offices also will distribute applications. Those who qualify will be able to start using their SilverCard at participating pharmacies Jan. 1. Co-payments and deductibles will be determined in December but are expected to be modest.

Priority will be given to single seniors making $12,525 or less, and to married couples earning a combined $16,875 or less. But single seniors who earn $14,612 or less, and married couples earning $19,678 or less, also are encouraged to apply. Persons whose income is below SILVERxCARD limits but who have been rejected Medicaid coverage by the DSS due to assets may apply for SILVERxCARD and include with their application a copy of their rejection letter from DSS -AS LONG AS that rejection letter is dated within the past SIX MONTHS.