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Rendell Administration Faulted for Drug Plan Approach
That Cost PA Nearly $12
Million in Federal Dollars
HARRISBURG -- The
Rendell Administration's failure to properly access and utilize funding
available through the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit plan has
resulted in the loss of nearly $12 million in federal funding and could impact
affordable prescription drug coverage for many senior citizens, according to a
letter sent by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R-Blair) and
Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill (R-Lebanon).
Because Pennsylvania's
PACE/PACENET program has failed to draw down available federal dollars, the
Commonwealth's Lottery Fund has already forfeited nearly $12 million in federal
transitional grant funding for fiscal year 2005, the senators said. The state
could lose another $12 million if the Rendell Administration fails to take
corrective action. This funding was allocated to educate seniors about the new
drug benefit program.
Brightbill said he is
extremely concerned that the Rendell Administration has not sought public input
and may be making unilateral decisions regarding the PACE/PACENET program that
could foreclose the state's options in the future.
Pennsylvania's pharmaceutical
assistance program is the only one in the nation that is forcing beneficiaries
into a specific Administration plan. Brightbill and Jubelirer said that seniors
could face higher costs and have fewer choices on drug coverage as a result. In
addition, the Lottery Fund will be forced to spend additional dollars because
PACE and PACENET recipients will not be considered eligible for catastrophic
drug coverage.
“One of the hallmarks of the
federal Medicare Part D benefit is 'choice' for our seniors. Yet your
Administration is limiting that choice by selecting one plan through a
closed-door process, with no selection criteria and no requests for proposals
having been issued,” Brightbill said.
“We cannot afford to
foreclose available options or lose one dollar of federal funding for our state
or our senior citizens simply because shortsighted decisions are being made that
contravene state and federal laws,” Brightbill said. “We must make the most
effective use of State Lottery funds to maximize available benefits and provide
the best possible safeguards for our seniors.”
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