Maine delegation splits on drug bill

The Bush administration says more than 227,000 Mainers would be eligible for prescription drug coverage through a Medicaid plan under a bill that was before the Senate on Sunday.

Both of Maine’s senators, Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, supported the proposal. Democratic Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud of Maine were among those who opposed it when it was approved in the House by a narrow majority earlier in the weekend.

Snowe said the bill “comes at a critical juncture for America’s seniors, who have been reeling as their prescription drug costs have risen an average of 16 percent per year,” or seven times the inflation rate.

Snowe said she was relieved the bill had been modified to ensure that drug benefits do not come at the expense of the Medicare program.

Collins was pleased with provisions she said assure that homebound patients have more access to Medicare, and make generic drugs more readily available to consumers. She said the bill “takes a number of important first steps” toward modernizing Medicare.

The administration, through the Department of Health and Human Services, said 227,308 Mainers would have access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit beginning in 2006.

It said seniors who pay monthly premiums of $35 would be able to cut their drug costs roughly in half rather than pay full prices.

In addition, 79,909 beneficiaries in Maine who have limited savings and low incomes will pay no premium for the drug coverage, although they will be responsible for co-payments of $2 for generic drugs and $5 for name brands.

Medicare would also assume prescription drug costs of more than 47,000 Mainers who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, the government said.

Congressman Allen fears that enactment would force seniors out of traditional Medicare, the only health insurance he said most Maine seniors have known, and into health maintenance organizations.

Allen said it would allow the pharmaceutical drug industry to continue charging American seniors “the highest prices in the world, and do little to reduce the out-of-pocket costs of most seniors.”

The congressman also contended the bill is financially unsound.