A bill sponsored by Senator Diane Allen, R-Burlington, that will ensure that seniors aren’t dropped from programs that help them pay for the cost of buying prescription drugs was cleared today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Senator Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, is a second prime sponsor on S-149 with Senator Allen.
“Our state has two excellent prescription drug programs for seniors – the PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) program for those with low incomes, and Senior Gold, which helps seniors of low- and moderate-income with the potentially unaffordable costs of paying for the medications they need to survive and maintain a high quality of life,” said Senator Allen “But I have had seniors come to my office who have dropped from one of these programs because of a slight income decrease or increase. They have had to forgo important, life-sustaining medication because they could no longer afford it.
“S-149 puts a stop to that. Once this bill is passed, seniors dropped from one program will be automatically enrolled in the other assistance program, if they qualify.
“That means that seniors whose incomes rise slightly will not have to enroll in Senior Gold if they are dropped from PAAD. It will be done automatically. And they will be automatically enrolled in PAAD if their incomes fall to levels that demonstrate that they must have more generous assistance.
“New Jersey seniors live longer, happier lives if they get the prescription drugs they need. Failure to provide access to life-saving medication isn’t just a terrible way to treat the folks that raised us and built our state – it can lead to higher emergency room and charity hospital costs for everyone. Access to PAAD and Senior Gold programs should be as easy as we can make it.”
Short Link to this Post:
http://bit.ly/b5xtjN
Similar Posts:
- PAAD/Senior Gold Funding Restored for Seniors and Disabled Citizens
May 19, 2010 - Bucco: Christie Restores PAAD & Senior Gold Prescription Programs without a Tax Hike
May 19, 2010 - Ciesla, Wolfe & Holzapfel: Christie Restores PAAD Funding without Tax Hikes, Gimmicks
May 19, 2010 - Republican Leader Tom Kean Applauds Governor Christie for Restoring PAAD and Senior Gold without Tax Increases
May 19, 2010 - Senator Sean Kean Applauds Governor’s Decision To Establish New Drug Program For People With AIDS/HIV
July 30, 2010
