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Senate Health Committee voices reservations about Task Force recommendations

JEFFERSON CITY - The GOP chairman of the Senate Health Committee voiced Wednesday reservations about the recommendations of the governor's task force on prescription drugs -- although the task force included a key GOP plank in its proposal.

"The cost still needs to be looked at", said Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Joplin.

"I would be remiss in supporting a program that puts the state at financial risk in two years."

Singleton had sponsored the approach approved last winter by the Senate that would have privatized state assistance to the lower-income elderly pay for their prescription drugs.

In an effort to win GOP support for the special session, the task force recommended private management of the assistance program, said the task force chair, Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell.

"I believe that it is a plan that will extend the opportunity for bipartisan support. It is a plan also that was designed to move between the house and the senate", Maxwell said.

Singleton serves on the task force. While warning about the long term costs of the task force recommendation, he voiced support for the approach of having business rather than government management the program.

"Private industry in business functions a whole lot better than state government can. This moves us to where we are a lot closer."

Maxwell agreed.

"I believe that a third party handling is a step in the right directon," Maxwell said.

Singleton said in an interview Wednesday that he thought there should be hearings on the proposal and further review of the potential long-term costs.

But Maxwell said that the program has been studied long enough.

"Seniors need a solid drug program. Postponement is not the right direction."

The administration has proposed changing the current tax-credit program for the elderly because it has run over budget and is not limited to those lower-income elderly who have the greatest need for financial assistance to pay for their prescription drugs.

Singleton argues there are short-term steps the state can take to reduce the costs while giving the legislature more time to come up with an affordable long-term solution.