Missouri SenioRx program

By Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell

Currently, there is a bill in the Missouri legislature that allows us to
guarantee that the near poor seniors of this state have access to their
preferred and trusted prescription drugs. This legislation calls for a
rebate reduction for generic prescription drug manufacturers in the Missouri
SenioRx Program. This bill, known as House Bill 47, has been tucked into
other pieces of legislation both in the House and the Senate. It calls for a
simple fix that will benefit thousands of our Missouri seniors. Yet this
crucial piece of legislation has not been approved in either chamber.
Passing a fix for the SenioRx Program before session ends May 16 is vital
because of the dramatic impact it will have on those seniors who purchase
their necessary prescription drugs through this program. Many of the generic
drug manufacturers are having difficulty participating in the program due to
burdensome costs that are inconsistent with similar programs. This bill
corrects a glitch in the current law that mandates these manufacturers pay
more to participate in the Missouri SenioRx Program than in programs such as
the Medicaid Pharmacy Program.  

Generic drug manufacturers will pull out of the Missouri SenioRx Program on
May 31 due to the cost of participation.  If this problem is not corrected,
approximately 20,000 Missouri seniors will find that many of the medications
they depend on are no longer available through the program.  This will force
seniors to change from their trusted and preferred prescription drugs and
spend far more on the cost of name-brand drugs.

This bill deserves to receive the attention of the House and Senate
leadership. Not only will this bill provide for the continued participation
of generic medications in the SenioRx Program, but it is also a cost
avoidance to our state and our seniors during this time of budgetary
difficulty. 

With only four weeks remaining in this legislative session, time is running
out for our near poor seniors. Leadership must step up and take
responsibility for this vulnerable population.  Please contact your
legislators to make sure this legislation and the health of our seniors is
not forgotten during these precious few weeks left of session. Encourage
them to swiftly pass a bill that will ensure our seniors have affordable
access to the prescription drugs they depend upon.