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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
Posted by NJ Senate Democrats on October 15, 2004 at 15:46:23:
FOR RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Jason Butkowski October 15, 2004 Tel: (609) 292-5215 Fax: (609) 984-1235 DORIA PUSHES BILL PACKAGE TO IMPROVE STATE-RUN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria announced today that he will call for consideration of a legislative package he introduced which would improve New Jersey's Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) and SeniorGold pharmaceutical assistance programs. "The cost of drugs in today's society is burdensome to so many seniors and disabled individuals who live on fixed incomes," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "Without some sort of State assistance, many of these people would have to forego necessary medicine just to afford basic living expenses in the Garden State. The current PAAD and SeniorGold programs provide help to many, but with a little more flexibility and improvements to the system, they could be so much better for all of the vulnerable citizens of our State." The first bill in the package, S-1933, would prohibit the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services from implementing any regulations in connection with the PAAD program which would limit or restrict a PAAD recipient's ability to select a participating pharmacy. The bill does authorize the Commissioner to require that eligible pharmacies be able to provide PAAD recipients with patient consultation services and be able to monitor for adverse drug interactions. The bill also prohibits the Commissioner from imposing a mandatory mail-order pharmaceutical service. "PAAD recipients, many of whom suffer from restricted mobility, need the flexibility to go to a convenient pharmacist, and we should not let bureaucrats stand in their way," said Senator Doria. "At the same time, many of these recipients need face-to-face contact with a pharmacist who can answer their questions and verify that their medications aren't interacting negatively to impact their health. This bill ensures that the Commissioner of Health cannot go from one extreme to another, and puts the decision-making power in the hands of the people who rely on PAAD for their pharmaceutical needs." The second bill, S-1934, would establish the 15-member "New Jersey Pharmaceutical Assistance Study Commission," within the Department of Health and Senior Services, to study the effects of federal Medicare reform legislation and make recommendations to ensure that seniors and disabled residents in New Jersey who are enrolled in PAAD and SeniorGold are not negatively affected. The Commission will make recommendations to the Legislature within twelve months of the bill being signed into law on how to adapt PAAD and SeniorGold to the new federal Medicare regulations. "Right now, it's really anybody's guess what the federal Medicare regulations have in store for New Jersey, and how it will affect our State-run pharmaceutical assistance programs," said Senator Doria. "We need a panel of experts to make sure that we're getting the best deals possible for our State's elderly and disabled residents. The Pharmaceutical Assistance Study Commission will work on behalf of our State to make PAAD and SeniorGold the best programs that they can be." Both bills are pending consideration in the Senate. ###
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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
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