Colorado House Rejects Drug Discount Bill For Uninsured Residents

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 08 May 2006 - 18:00 PDT

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The Colorado House on Tuesday voted 35-30 to defeat a bill (HB 1100) that would have created a prescription drug discount program for uninsured individuals in the state, the Denver Post reports (Frates, Denver Post, 5/3). Under the proposal, state residents ages 60 and older and uninsured residents with incomes lower than 250% of the federal poverty level -- $50,000 for a family of four -- could apply for a "Colorado Cares Rx" card, which would allow them to buy drugs at the same prices as those negotiated for state employees and retirees (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/23). Pharmacies, HMOs and consumer groups all objected to the bill, the Post reports. Lobbyists for the Colorado AFL-CIO and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and Teresa Heinz Kerry, whose foundation helped write the bill, strongly supported the bill. The House did approve a bill (SB 1) that would require Colorado to join a multistate drug-purchasing pool, though some lawmakers are concerned that Gov. Bill Owens (R) will veto it, as he did a similar bill last year, according to the Post (Denver Post, 5/3).

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