Standing Together to Protect SeniorCare

Madison – Today State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement regarding protecting against any harm to SeniorCare in Governor Walker’s upcoming state budget:

“This week, I met with the Milwaukee County Department on Aging’s Advocacy Committee and other senior advocates to discuss priorities for protecting from budget cuts the programs seniors rely upon.

One of the biggest priorities is to protect SeniorCare. SeniorCare is a successful, cost-effective program that helps provides vital prescription drugs that low-income seniors need and depend upon.

Senior advocates worry that the Governor will once again attempt to cut Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program, and attempt to move all seniors onto the Medicare Part D program.

However, SeniorCare costs taxpayers less than Medicare Part D because – unlike the federal government – the state negotiates with drug manufactures for volume discounts and rebates. And SeniorCare is simple to apply for, as opposed to the complicated Medicare Part D that may have a returning ‘donut hole’ gap in coverage if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

I will continue to stand with seniors and senior advocates to fight any attempts to harm SeniorCare.”

Senator Carpenter has introduced Senate Bill 8 to protect SeniorCare, and make sure that the program continues and all funds raised in the program are used for SeniorCare purposes. Thirty one of Senator Carpenter’s fellow legislators have signed on a co-sponsors of the SeniorCare Protection Act.