Long Term Care Organization Praise Sen. Smith's Effort To Eliminate Part D Co-Pays For Dual Eligibles In Assisted Living Residences, USA

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 16 Apr 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Today, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) praised Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and his co-sponsors for their introduction of the Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2007. This legislation would provide dual eligibles - those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid - living in our nation's assisted living residences and other home- and community-based settings (HCBS) the same copay coverage under Medicare Part D as those residing in nursing facilities.

"We applaud Sen. Smith's leadership and steadfast support on an issue that is critically important to assisted living's low-income and frail elderly beneficiaries," said David Kyllo, Executive Director of NCAL. "Our residents require the same number of medications as nursing facility residents, yet, this group of low-income assisted living residents is unable to afford their co-payments and therefore is denied access to their life-saving medicines."

AHCA/NCAL also praised the bill's bi-partisan cosponsors, which include Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Bill Nelson (D-FL).

According to research, dual eligible assisted living residents take eight to 10 medications, and with Part D drug copays ranging from $1 to $5 dollars, their expenditures can quickly add up and exceed the resident's monthly personal allowance under Medicaid.

"Remedying this gap in prescription coverage is based upon simple common sense, and is supported by a coalition of more than 35 national organizations representing consumers, geriatric care professionals, health care and long term care providers, pharmacists, and state officials," said Kyllo. NCAL led the coalition to garner support on behalf of assisted living residents.

As more states opt to use Medicaid to cover assisted living services, this population of beneficiaries is expected to increase. Analysis prepared for AHCA/NCAL by the Lewin Group revealed that by 2008, the HCBS dual eligible population will be larger than the number of dual eligible beneficiaries living in nursing facilities and other institutions.

"Assisted living providers are concerned about the quality of life of their dual eligible residents," Kyllo said. "The passage of the Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2007 would ensure that residents receive their needed medications."

The American Health Care Association and the National Center For Assisted Living are the nation's leading long term care organizations. AHCA/NCAL and their membership are committed to performance excellence and Quality First, a covenant for healthy, affordable and ethical long term care. AHCA/NCAL represent more than 10,000 non-profit and proprietary facilities dedicated to continuous improvement in the delivery of professional and compassionate care provided daily to more than 1.5 million of our nation's frail, elderly and disabled citizens who live in nursing facilities, assisted living residences, subacute centers and homes for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

www.ahca.org

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