Lt. Gov. Maxwell Identifies SenioRx Program Hurdles, Calls for Legislative Reform

	JEFFERSON CITY- Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell today recommended key areas of reform needed with the SenioRx Prescription Drug Program in order to overcome obstacles with prescription drug prices.
	
	The SenioRx program was implemented July 1, 2002 and more than 29,000 Missouri senior citizens are enrolled in the program. The program offers both generic and name-brand prescription drugs at a lower cost for eligible Missouri senior citizens. The lieutenant governor said that since legislators passed the statutes for the program last session, new changes are necessary in order to better serve the programs members.

	"The program has been very successful with seniors across the state, but there are still a few seniors who are not gaining all the benefits they should because of billing problems," Maxwell said.

	Maxwell said there are three key areas the legislature needs to address during the 2003 legislative session. "These are areas that need to be made a priority by legislators so all of our eligible seniors can reap the benefits of affordable prescription drugs," Maxwell said.

	He said when a senior has more than one prescription benefit plan, state statute mandates Missouri SenioRx program as the payer of last resort. This requires the pharmacist to run both insurance cards through their system, known as "split-billing."  When a pharmacist is not willing to do this it results in seniors not receiving the benefits to which they are entitled. Maxwell is asking legislators to amend the statute to mandate split-billing in order to better serve seniors.

	Also by statute, pharmacies have the option of picking between two different pricing options for billing customers. Some pharmacies chose the higher pricing option making prescriptions more expensive than at other pharmacies. There are about 1,300 pharmacies participating in the SenioRx program and 158 chose the higher pricing option. "We've sent out letters asking the 158 pharmacies to reconsider their pricing options, and I hope legislators will look at the statute so pharmacies may only utilize the best option for seniors," Maxwell said.

	Maxwell said the last hurdle is reducing the generic pharmaceutical manufacturer's rebate to the state currently set at 15 percent to 11 percent. This 15 percent rebate is applied to both generic and name-brand manufacturers, but generic drugs are less costly so their profits are hurt by the equal rebate. "This next session we have to decrease generic drug manufacturer's rebates or we risk losing their contract," Maxwell said. "It helps preserve competition between generic and name-brand drugs."

	"As Chair of the SenioRx program, I'm pleased that it serves so many senior citizens in lowering their prescription costs," Maxwell said. "We just want to make sure all seniors are getting the full benefits."