06-R 022

2006 -- S 2039

Enacted 01/12/06

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

REQUESTING ACTION BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ELIMINATE THE CO-

PAYMENT REQUIREMENT OF MEDICARE PART D FOR "DUAL ELIGIBLE" PERSONS,

PARTIALLY RESTORING THEIR MEDICATION BENEFIT TO THAT OF THE MEDICAID

PROGRAM

Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Roberts, C Levesque, Perry, and Gibbs

Date Introduced: January 12, 2006

     WHEREAS, 29,000 older and disabled persons in Rhode Island are eligible for both

Medicare (federal program paying for hospitalization and some community services) and

Medicaid (state/federal program paying for other necessary health services, including long-term

care); and

     WHEREAS, These "dual eligible" indigent and infirm individuals have previously had

the majority of their necessary medications paid for by the state Medicaid program; and

     WHEREAS, The new federal Medicare pharmacy benefit program requires the states to

send the federal government the amount of state funding used to provide Medicaid prescription

coverage for this "dual eligible" population; and

     WHEREAS, The new federal Medicare pharmacy program requires all enrollees, except

those residing in nursing homes, to pay some of the cost of each prescription in the form of "co-

payments", and requires full payment for any medications not covered by their new plans; and

     WHEREAS, These individuals subsist on very limited incomes and have not previously

had prescription expenses to compete with their other living expenses; and

     WHEREAS, Since many of these "dual eligible" persons are disabled, they require

numerous prescriptions to maintain their health and decrease their need for hospitalization or

nursing home care; and

     WHEREAS, Those of the "dual eligible" persons who reside in assisted living on the

state's Supplemental SSI program have $55 per month available to them for all daily living needs

(including clothing, toiletries, transportation and social activities); and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Assisted Living Association estimates that some residents

living on a $55 monthly personal needs allowance may incur up to $33 per month in new

medication costs due to application of the co-payment requirement of the Medicare Part D

prescription drug benefit; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests the US Congress take action to eliminate the co-payment

requirement of Medicare Part D for "dual eligible" persons, partially restoring their medication

benefit to that of the Medicaid program; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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LC00563

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