By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Missouri Governor Bob Holden wants the state to pick up part of what Medicare won't. When Medicare starts covering prescription drugs in 2006, it will not cover drug costs above $2,250 and below $5,000. Holden says the state's Senior RX program should be revamped to cover 75% of costs in that range.
He made the pitch at a senior center in O'Fallon Thursday. "The federal legislation that was passed does not go into effect until 2006," Holden said. "When it does go into effect there are holes in it, and we want to get those fixed in Missouri, so that there is coverage for those low-income seniors in the state of Missouri."
Holden says adding more people to Senior Rx could cost Missouri taxpayers an extra $9 million.
Senior Rx now covers about 19,000 people. Qualified seniors have until February 28th to enroll in the program.