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| Gov. Scott Walker, foe of SeniorCare RX, after announcing 2018 reelection bid said he's a converted supporter. Walker's conversion is not trusted by Wisconsin senior advocates. |
Get a move on, Scott Walker
Madison, Wisconsin — Old people in Wisconsin with their prescription drug-savings needs are almost as bad as teachers and staff.
That's the message Scott Walker is sending as Walker's Department of Health Services (DHS) and Walker maintain political and campaign silence on requesting the SeniorCare Prescription Drug Assistance Program extension through 2028. Many Wisconsin residents see advocacy for SeniorCare as one basis on which to select a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for governor to meet Walker in the general election.
In 2015, Walker called for massive cuts to SeniorCare that would have resulted in a $66 million loss for the senior program.
In 2018, after announcing his campaign for reelection, Walker said he actually wants permanent operation for SeniorCare, but remained silent on his previously proposed cuts.
Senior advocates do not trust Scott Walker's evolving positions, slashing and subsequently voicing approval for the popular senior RX program.
Notes AARP-Wisconsin:
SeniorCare helps more than 92,000 Wisconsinites age 65-plus with their prescription drug costs. The current waiver that allows Wisconsin to offer SeniorCare as a creditable alternative to Medicare Part D is currently set to expire on Dec. 31, 2018.
Advocates for seniors are urged to contact the Department of Health Services (DHS) and call for the continuation of this popular and critical senior program by June 7, the end of the 30-day public comment deadline. The Health Service email is:
DHSSeniorCare@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Contact info is:
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Division of Medicaid Services
Attn: Tiffany Reilly
1 W. Wilson St., P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53703
Email: dhsseniorcare@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Fax 608-266-1096
Below is an email to friends from one senior advocate from central Wisconsin, and an email from AARP-Wisconsin, both of which urge comments to the Walker administration by the June 7 deadline.
Friends,
My Mom spent the last several years of her life working with AARP to get SeniorCare passed to help the senior citizens of Wisconsin. She considered it one of her greatest accomplishments.
Many older Wisconsinites on fixed incomes are struggling to make ends meet each month. And the situation is getting more and more dire with rising costs of living and the soaring costs of medications. With SeniorCare, Wisconsin has set the bar high for not only creating a very accessible and affordable program for seniors but one that is also an extraordinarily cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars.
SeniorCare helps more than 92,000 Wisconsinites age 65-plus with their prescription drug costs.
SeniorCare is a great program for Wisconsin and its participants. The costs of the program are largely managed by the state’s ability to negotiate discounts and pricing. Enrollees pay an annual $30 fee and deductibles are based on their average income. After the deductible, SeniorCare has a co-pay of $5 for generic drugs and $15 for name-brand drugs.
Wisconsin's SeniorCare has proven to be a great program and could very well be a model for the nation to help senior citizens.
The current waiver that permits SeniorCare as a creditable alternative to Medicare Part D expires on Dec. 31, 2018. Please allow the waiver to be extended for another 10 years.
From AARP-Wisconsin:
June 7 is the deadline to provide comments about the value of SeniorCare.
SeniorCare is a win-win program for Wisconsin.
Click here to send an email adding your voice to Wisconsin’s request to extend a waiver for this program by 10 years.
Now is the time for Wisconsinites to take action if they want the nation’s most innovative and cost-effective state prescription drug savings program for seniors to be extended for another decade.Many Wisconsin residents see advocacy for SeniorCare as critical to respecting and loving seniors who comprise the backbone of the state community.
SeniorCare helps more than 92,000 Wisconsinites age 65-plus with their prescription drug costs. But the current waiver that allows Wisconsin to offer SeniorCare as a creditable alternative to Medicare Part D is currently set to expire on Dec. 31, 2018.
That’s why we need your help. Send your comments directly to the state Department of Health Services (DHS), which will include them in its submission to the federal government, requesting that SeniorCare be extended through 2028.
By any measure, SeniorCare is a win-win program for Wisconsin and its participants. The costs of the program are largely managed by the state’s ability to negotiate discounts and pricing. Enrollees pay an annual $30 fee and deductibles are based on their average income. After the deductible, SeniorCare has a co-pay of $5 for generic drugs and $15 for name-brand drugs.
Many older Wisconsinites on fixed incomes are struggling to make ends meet each month with rising costs of living and soaring costs of medications. With SeniorCare, Wisconsin has set the bar high for not only creating a very accessible and affordable program for seniors, but one that is an extraordinarily cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars.
We encourage all Wisconsinites to provide comments about the value of SeniorCare before the June 7 deadline. Learn more and provide comments to DHS.
Lots of supportive comments from the public about the program will go a long ways towards helping the waiver to be extended by 10 years.
We’ll be in touch soon with more ways you can make your voice heard as we fight for the future of SeniorCare. Thanks,
Sam Wilson
State Director
AARP Wisconsin
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