Letter Sent to Secretary Leavitt Following Passage of Supplemental Appropriations Bill
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt electing to extend SeniorCare for two and half years. The SeniorCare extension was granted as a part of the Emergency Supplemental Spending bill passed by Congress and signed by the President last week.
“As you know, the supplemental appropriation bill signed last Friday by the President includes language allowing Wisconsin to continue SeniorCare.” Governor Doyle said. “I am writing to confirm that Wisconsin will, in fact, elect to continue SeniorCare. We look forward to working jointly with CMS to maintain the extraordinary success of SeniorCare through 2009.”
The Governor also thanked the Wisconsin congressional delegation for their work to keep SeniorCare alive.
SeniorCare has been an incredibly effective prescription drug program for Wisconsin. According to analysis by AARP Wisconsin, more than 94 percent of seniors are better off on SeniorCare than they would be under Medicare Part D because the co-payments are lower and the coverage is more comprehensive. SeniorCare is easier than Medicare Part D because it has a simple one page enrollment form. Wisconsin seniors who choose SeniorCare also do not need to choose from among the more than 50 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Seniors also know that their SeniorCare card will get them discounts at over 1200 pharmacies across the state.
To read the letter, go to: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11266.
