Senior drug benefits hit home for Emerson

President George Bush's call for drug benefits for America's elderly has grabbed the attention of local senior citizens burdened with the high cost of prescription pills.

It's a battle cry that U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants to hear in Washington these days.

Bush sounded the call in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, echoing what has become a major issue with Emerson and a constant concern for many senior citizens.

"I was thrilled that the president mentioned prescription drugs and the need to give seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that does include coverage for prescription drugs," she said Wednesday.

Emerson said America's elderly need protection from high-cost medical bills. Emerson told reporters in a telephone conference call from Washington that her mother-in-law's prescription drug bill totals close to $1,000 a month. "I am just whittling down her savings account paying her bill," she said.

Emerson's bill

Medicare doesn't pay for prescription drugs.

Emerson wants to change that situation. She introduced a bill last week that would establish a voluntary program that would allow senior citizens to receive Medicare assistance for prescription drugs.

Participants would pay 20 percent of the cost of their medications and pay a monthly insurance premium.

There would be an annual deductible of $250 under Emerson's plan.

The federal government would negotiate discounted drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies and pay the costs not covered by participants.

Emerson said the cost to the federal government could be $300 billion over 10 years. But she said it would be worth it.

Cape Girardeau's senior citizens know well about the high cost of prescription medicine.

Retired businessman Doyle Sample, 64, welcomed the president's and Emerson's call for prescription-drug relief.

"I need it now," Sample said as he ate lunch at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center on Wednesday.

Sample said he and his wife spend from $700 to $800 a month on prescription medicines, most of them to treat his ailments. He suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and gout.

"I take 11 different medicines every day," said Sample.

His medicine costs more than what he gets in Social Security. Sample said he and his wife have to dip into their savings to pay the bill.

Some of his medicines, he said, cost more than $100 for a 30-day supply.

Drug prices

Betty Osbourne, 74, of Cape Girardeau also bemoaned the high cost of prescription drugs as she dined at the senior center.

She wants the government to see to it that prescription medicine is priced the same at all pharmacies.

No matter the pharmacy, Osbourne says she is paying too much. She spends $3,000 a year on doctor-ordered drugs.

But Osbourne doubts the government will come to her aid.

"Who is going to pick up the tab?" she asked.

Cape Girardeau pharmacist Bob Pritchard said most druggists would support a price break for the elderly provided that the cost is spread among taxpayers, senior citizens, the government, drug manufacturers and pharmacies.

Pritchard, who operates Park Pharmacy, sympathizes with his customers. He knows the high cost is a burden on the elderly, particularly those on fixed incomes.

"We all agree they do need help," he said.

Missouri program

The state of Missouri has enacted a drug discount program for low-income elderly that will take effect on July 1. Under the law, the state will pay 60 percent of the prescription costs for Missourians age 65 and older whose income doesn't exceed $17,000 annually for individuals and $23,000 for couples.

But Sample said even senior citizens who have some savings need help with their prescription medicine bills.

Sample said the nation's elderly are losing their life savings to the high cost of medicine.

"We are spending our kids' inheritance for medication," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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