COLUMBUS Hagan co-sponsors drug-discount bill

The bill is to be introduced later this week or early next week.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Two Northeastern Ohio state senators -- a Republican and a Democrat -- will be the prime sponsors of a sweeping prescription-drug discount bill in the GOP-dominated upper chamber.
State Sen. Robert F. Spada, R-North Royalton, and state Sen. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown, will carry the bill in the Senate, the lawmakers said Tuesday.
"Everybody is interested in this issue," said Spada.
"I think this can pass this Legislature," said Hagan. "I think this can pass this Legislature with very little opposition."
The Senate finance and financial institutions committee began informal hearings Tuesday on the proposed legislation, which has not yet officially been introduced.
Legislative researchers are still writing the bill that resulted from an agreement struck by a coalition of labor and consumer organizations and a group representing drug manufacturers.
The bill is to be introduced either later this week or early next week, legislative leaders said.
Range of discounts
Under the agreement, announced last month, the proposed drug-discount program, called Ohio's Best Rx, would provide discounts of between 25 percent and 40 percent, depending on the drug and other factors.
Under the agreement, which is also going to be introduced as a bill in the Ohio House, state residents 60 and older, regardless of their incomes, will be eligible for a prescription-drug discount.
Also covered will be Ohio residents without prescription-drug coverage whose income is no greater than 250 percent of the federal poverty level, under the groups' proposal. For a family of four, that would be $42,500.
If enacted, program participants would receive a card to present to receive a discount. The program would use the buying power of state employee health care plans to obtain the best discounts for senior citizens and uninsured, poor Ohioans.
The program, to be administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, also would set up a prescription-drug review commission, to be made up of state lawmakers and advocacy groups, to ensure the program is run effectively.
Backers of the proposed program say they believe it will be able to reach about 80 percent of the state's 2.2 million uninsured residents or uncovered senior citizens.
It was not known who would be the prime sponsors of the bill in the GOP-led Ohio House.
Legislative leaders hope to enact a prescription-drug discount bill by the end of the year.