Kasten selected to serve on prescription commission

State Sen. Peter Kinder has selected former state Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau to serve on the special commission for the Senior Rx Program. The commission is being appointed to help low-income senior citizens with the cost of prescription medication.

The 15-member panel was established as part of a law passed by the General Assembly during the special session in September. It was passed to correct a tax credit program that failed to help older citizens properly.

The leader of both the House and Senate were authorized to select one citizen each to serve on the panel. Kinder said he picked Kasten because she is "highly regarded as an outstanding advocate of the people in our community."

Kasten will join two Senators on the panel -- also appointed by Kinder -- the lieutenant governor, two House members, directors of the divisions of Medical Services and of Aging, a physician, a pharmacist and representatives of senior citizen advocacy groups.