Letter to the Hon. Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Sensenbrenner Leads Bipartisan Effort to Extend Prescription Drug Program for Seniors

Letter

Dear Secretary Azar:

As members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation, we wish to express our support for Wisconsin's SeniorCare program and request your immediate attention to provide a long-term extension of this program, which is set to expire on March 31, 2019.

Wisconsin's SeniorCare program provides prescription drug assistance to low-income seniors, age 65 and older, whose income does not exceed 240 percent of the federal poverty level. More than 45,000 seniors throughout our state rely on federal matching funds for the SeniorCare program to purchase affordable life-saving medications. To deny approval of a long-term extension would cause potential breaks in prescription drug coverage, confusion, and bureaucratic problems for vulnerable seniors who are otherwise satisfied with their coverage.

Since its implementation in 2002, this successful program has proven to be a responsible steward of taxpayer funds, while providing quality care to our state's seniors. SeniorCare saves Medicaid money and has consistently achieved budget neutrality. Additionally, SeniorCare allows Medicaid greater flexibility than the Medicare Part D program to negotiate the best price for prescription drugs.

We respectfully ask that you fulfill our request for a long-term extension of the SeniorCare program, so Wisconsin seniors can continue to get prescription drugs at a price they can afford. Supporting this drug benefit program is in the best interest of American taxpayers, Wisconsinites, and the thousands of seniors enrolled. We appreciate your consideration and attention to this request and look forward to working with you to continue to protect our states' elderly population.

Respectfully,