Sensenbrenner Leads Bipartisan Effort to Extend Prescription Drug Program for Seniors
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05) led a delegation-wide letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in support of Wisconsin’s SeniorCare prescription drug assistance program.
Rep. Sensenbrenner: “I’m proud to lead our delegation in supporting this vital program that helps tens of thousands of Wisconsin’s senior citizens afford their life-saving medications.”
Below is the text of the letter:
March 25, 2019
The Honorable Alex Azar
Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Azar:
As members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation, we wish to express our support for Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program and request your immediate attention to provide a long-term extension of this program, which is set to expire on March 31, 2019.
Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program provides prescription drug assistance to low-income seniors, age 65 and older, whose income does not exceed 240 percent of the federal poverty level. More than 45,000 seniors throughout our state rely on federal matching funds for the SeniorCare program to purchase affordable life-saving medications. To deny approval of a long-term extension would cause potential breaks in prescription drug coverage, confusion, and bureaucratic problems for vulnerable seniors who are otherwise satisfied with their coverage.
Since its implementation in 2002, this successful program has proven to be a responsible steward of taxpayer funds, while providing quality care to our state’s seniors. SeniorCare saves Medicaid money and has consistently achieved budget neutrality. Additionally, SeniorCare allows Medicaid greater flexibility than the Medicare Part D program to negotiate the best price for prescription drugs.
We respectfully ask that you fulfill our request for a long-term extension of the SeniorCare program, so Wisconsin seniors can continue to get prescription drugs at a price they can afford. Supporting this drug benefit program is in the best interest of American taxpayers, Wisconsinites, and the thousands of seniors enrolled. We appreciate your consideration and attention to this request and look forward to working with you to continue to protect our states’ elderly population.
Respectfully,
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. Ron Kind
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Gwen Moore Sean Duffy
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mark Pocan Glenn Grothman
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mike Gallagher Bryan Steil
Member of Congress Member of Congress
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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