AJR52: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2610/1

SRM:kjf:nwn

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 52

May 9, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Nelson, Tauchen, Hraychuck, Mursau, Jorgensen, Murtha, Soletski, Davis, Garthwaite, Hines, Smith, Krusick, Travis, Hixson, Van Roy, Nerison, Molepske, Vruwink, Moulton, Sheridan, Hintz, Van Akkeren, Toles, Mason, A. Ott, Jeskewitz, Kaufert, Cullen, Richards, Hubler, Kreuser, Sherman, Sinicki, Hilgenberg, Staskunas, Grigsby, Schneider, Berceau, Gronemus, Hebl, Steinbrink, Benedict, Seidel, Shilling, Fields, Turner, Young, Zepnick, Boyle, Pocan, Wasserman, Pope-Roberts, Parisi, Black, Kessler, Colon and M. Williams, cosponsored by Senators Plale, Kreitlow, Wirch, Sullivan, Taylor, Coggs, Hansen, Lehman, Risser, Roessler, Lassa, Carpenter and Leibham. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR52,1,2 Relating to: urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to renew SeniorCare.

AJR52,1,5 Whereas, Wisconsin's congressional delegation has made great strides to save SeniorCare, Wisconsin's highly successful prescription drug program for seniors, and should be duly thanked for their efforts to save the program; and

AJR52,1,8 Whereas, SeniorCare is set to expire on June 30, 2007, unless the federal government grants the state's request for a three-year waiver to continue the program; and

AJR52,1,11 Whereas, many of SeniorCare's current 105,000 beneficiaries, and an untold number of future beneficiaries, may face undue hardship if the program were to end; and

AJR52,1,14 Whereas, in most cases, SeniorCare provides better coverage, is less expensive, and is much easier to apply for than the federal Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit; and

AJR52,2,3 Whereas, unlike Medicare Part D, SeniorCare negotiates lower prices with drug companies and actually costs taxpayers much less than the federal program; and

AJR52,2,6 Whereas, the federal government spends on average about $617 per SeniorCare participant, almost half as much as the $1,174 it spends per Medicare Part D participant; and

AJR52,2,10 Whereas, SeniorCare has already saved Wisconsin seniors and taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars since its inception in 2002, reducing prescription drug costs for more than 100,000 seniors by almost $200 million in state fiscal year 2006 alone; and

AJR52,2,13 Whereas, according to an 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 copayments are lower and the coverage is more comprehensive; and

AJR52,2,17 Whereas, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on October 23, 2006, to extend the state's SeniorCare Pharmacy Plus Waiver for three years to June 30, 2010; now, therefore, be it

AJR52,2,21 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to extend the federal waiver that funds Wisconsin's SeniorCare program; and, be it further

AJR52,2,23 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to the president.

AJR52,2,24 (End)