Advocates push for elderly drug plan

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Advocates push for elderly drug plan

Baltimore Sun,

May 28, 2003

ANNAPOLIS - Health-care reform advocates will lobby state officials to follow Maine's lead and set up a plan to try to force drug companies to reduce prescription drug prices for the elderly.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling last week, rejected a challenge to the Maine plan from the pharmaceutical industry.

"Really, there is no reason for Maryland not to do this," Vincent DeMarco, executive director of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, said today.

"Drug companies are making profits on the most vulnerable of our society ...," DeMarco said. "We are simply saying, let the state negotiate for people that don't have anybody to negotiate for them."

At a senior citizens center in Towson, Norma Minton, a 74-year-old widow, said the nine medicines she takes cost her $700 a month.

"I'm on a small fixed income. It's terrible," she said. "I have no money for extras like movies or dinner out.

"As a senior, you're proud. Oh, my, [a prescription drug bill] would be wonderful."

Many elderly Marylanders do not have prescription drug plans and do not get the benefit of discounts available to people covered under government plans and private health insurance. They wind up paying higher prices for drugs, in some cases substantially higher prices.

The Maine law allows the state to use the power of its Medicaid program to persuade drug manufacturers to give discounts to the elderly. Supporters said it would reduce drug prices by 25 percent.

The law was passed in 2000, but has been on hold while it was challenged by drug manufacturers.

DeMarco's organization -- along with groups representing the elderly -- will begin a lobbying campaign for a similar law in Maryland.

"It's our top priority and has been for some time," said Charles Culbertson, president of United Seniors of Maryland.

"Prescription drugs have become very expensive, so people are making choices that they shouldn't have to make, either buying prescription drugs ... or sacrificing something else such as food or other necessities," he said.

Ed Mohler, president of the Maryland Alliance for Retired Americans, said people who do not have prescription drug coverage "are the only people paying full retail price for prescription drugs today."

"We intend to do all we can to right this wrong," he said.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a trade group, fought the Maine law in court.

Marjorie Powell, a spokeswoman for the trade group, in a written statement responding to the Supreme Court ruling, said the real way to help elderly people and the disabled is for the federal government to provide prescription drug coverage as part of Medicare.

She said more than 1,400 brand name medicines are available free to needy patients through the industry's assistance programs.