FOR RELEASE…TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2003

BROMWELL BILL BRINGS DISCOUNT DRUGS TO MORE SENIORS

Delegate Eric Bromwell (D. Baltimore County 8^th) urged the House Health & Government Operations Committee to approve his emergency bill (HB 211) to expand the senior Prescription Drug Subsidy Plan to serve more people, provided the funds are available.

Currently, the discount drug plan is limited to an enrollment of 30,000 Medicare seniors who have no prescription insurance coverage. CareFirst, which administers the program, has indicated that additional funds are available to serve more than 30,000 enrollees.

The program, enacted in 2001, enables Medicare seniors, whose incomes are $25,770 for singles and $34,830 for couples, to obtain $1,000 worth of prescription drugs annually for a monthly premium of $10. Those in the program pay no deductible, but are subject to a co-payment of $10 for a generic drug, $20 for a brand name drug and $35 for a non-preferred brand.

Delegate Bromwell said that, “CareFirst has estimated there will be about 5,000 people who will benefit from the passage of HB 211.”

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CONTACT: Delegate Bromwell

410-841-3766