Senior lobby to push for state discount prescription program

POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho’s most active senior citizen lobby has made creation of a state discount drug program its top priority when lawmakers convene the 58th Legislature in January.

“The legislation would affect a lot of people,” said Tom Sahlberg, a member of the Idaho executive committee of the American Association of Retired Persons.

Called Affordable Rx Idaho, the proposal targets up to 135,000 Idaho residents without insurance. They would qualify for prescription discount cards that could save them up to 60 percent. Idaho AARP Director Clyde Dailey said the card would be available to all ages, not just seniors.

“It’s a statewide problem that doesn’t know age, gender or political affiliation,” Dailey said.

AARP estimates that 80 percent of the people in Idaho without insurance have full- or part-time jobs.

Supporters say the state Health and Welfare Department could run the program by using the leverage it can create by signing up huge numbers of people to negotiate discounted prices with prescription drug manufacturers.

The key, Dailey said, is getting enough people enrolled to give the state the buying power that will sway the drug companies.

The card would be available to individuals or families making less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline — $37,700 for a family of four.

AARP estimates 64 percent of uninsured children, over 32,000, and 57 percent of adults, more than 103,000, would be eligible for the card in Idaho.

A version of the Affordable Rx Idaho was introduced in the state Senate last March but only to let policy-makers get a look at the details. Dailey maintained many lawmakers have supported the concept. He said AARP has asked Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to include it in his budget this January.

Last year’s version would have cost $400,000 to get started and then about $800,000 a year after that. But the initial costs would have been partially offset by $3 application fees from eligible participants and the annual costs by rebates the state receives from the drug companies.

“It’s always easier to kill than pass” a bill, Sahlberg said. “But I’m optimistic this will get done.”