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October 2005 Vol. 24. No. 10
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
Plus in this issue catch more news, opinions, features, book reviews, and event calendars.
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Props 78 and 79 - what are they, who's behind them, do we want them? Two of the propositions on the Nov. 8 ballot have to do with discounts on prescription drugs - Props. 78 and 79. They do not impact the new Medicare prescription benefit. The summary of each below was taken from the League of Women Voters web site, www.smartvoter.org. The summaries are prepared by the California attorney general. Following are the summaries, impacts, pros and cons and principal supporters of each position. Prop. 78 Proposition 78, Discounts on Prescription Drugs, establishes discount prescription drug program for certain low- and moderate-income Californians. Authorizes Department of Health Services to contract with participating pharmacies for discounts and with participating drug manufacturers for rebates. Meaning of Voting Yes/No A YES vote on this measure means a new state drug discount program would be created to reduce the costs that certain residents of the state, including persons in families with an income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, would pay for prescription drugs purchased at pharmacies. A NO vote on this measure means the state would not expand its drug discount program beyond an existing state program that assists elderly and disabled persons on Medicare. Arguments FOR Proposition 78 provides that millions of seniors and low income, uninsured Californians can buy prescription drugs at discounts of 40 percent. Adapted from a successful program operating in Ohio, Prop. 78 can take effect immediately without a big government bureaucracy. Seniors, taxpayers, nurses, doctors and patient advocates say Yes on Proposition 78. Info: www.calrxnow.org. Arguments AGAINST Prop. 78 is sponsored by the prescription drug companies. Prop. 78 is a smokescreen to stop Prop. 79, a real, enforceable plan backed by consumer groups. Under the "voluntary" Prop. 78, drug companies don't have to provide a single discount, and the plan can end at any time. Info: www.VoteNo OnProp78.com. Prop. 79 Prescription Drug Discounts. State-Negotiated Rebates. Provides drug discounts to Californians with qualifying incomes. Funded by state-negotiated drug manufacturer rebates. Prohibits Medi-Cal contracts with manufacturers not providing Medicaid best price. Meaning of Voting Yes/No A YES vote on this measure means a new state drug discount program would be created to reduce the costs that certain residents of the state, including persons in families with an income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, would pay for prescription drugs purchased at pharmacies. The new program would be linked to Medi-Cal for the purpose of obtaining rebates on drugs. A NO vote on this measure means the state would not expand its drug discount program beyond an existing state program that assists elderly and disabled persons on Medicare. Arguments FOR Prop. 79 provides enforceable discounts on prescription drugs for millions of Californians. Prop. 79 provides deeper discounts to more people than the drug industry's "voluntary" Prop. 78. Prop. 79 saves taxpayers money by reducing prescription drug costs. Join consumer, health and senior citizen advocates and vote yes on Prop. 79. Info: www.VoteYesOnProp79.com. Arguments AGAINST Proposition 79 can't deliver what it promises. It's based on a failed program from Maine that never took effect. Prop. 79 won't receive federal approval because it threatens poor patients' access to needed drugs. Prop. 79 creates a big government bureaucracy costing millions. Worse, trial lawyers can file thousands of frivolous lawsuits. Info: www.calrxnow.org. Assemblywoman Patty Berg's comments Proposition 78 - Consider the source. Big drug companies are spending a fortune to pass this toothless initiative that lets them give discounts if they feel like it. They're trying to keep us from enacting real reform. Proposition 79 - This measure uses the state's bargaining power to get Californians a better deal. Drug companies say it would waste taxpayer money, but it's really their money they're worried about. They don't like this because it forces them to offer a fair price. |
Senior News