US lobbies for co-pay scrapping for poorer seniors

A US congressional initiative, which is endorsed by the Assisted Living Federation of America, to eliminate the prescription drug expense paid by poor seniors who live in assisted-living communities has been filed on Capitol Hill. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (Democrat, Texas) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Republican, Florida) and 12 other House members are sponsoring HR 5604, the Medicare Part D Home and Community Services Co-payment Equity Act of 2008.

The ALFA argues that the bipartisan measure "corrects an apparent oversight in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program [Marketletters passim] by exempting drug co-payments for residents in assisted-living and other home and community-based settings who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid." The new legislation would treat these dual-eligible recipients the same as Medicaid recipients in nursing homes.

"It is simply wrong that any Medicaid recipient pay a financial penalty for living in an assisted living community," said Richard Grimes, the ALFA's president. He added: "we are grateful members of Congress from both political parties recognize this inequity and are taking steps to correct it." The ALFA represents professionally-managed, assisted-living communities for seniors.