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Wyden's plan offers seniors some help By JOANNA COLLINS Senior citizens talked with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden in Medford Monday about a bill that would lower or eliminate costs of prescription drugs for Medicare recipients. "The undertreatment of pain today in America is a documented public health crisis," the Oregon Democrat said during a post-lunch discussion at the Medford Senior Center. To address the issue, Wyden and Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe have introduced the Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity Act, or SPICE bill. If passed, it would provide Medicare recipients with full or partial coverage of prescription drug costs starting in 2002. The bill is supported by people like 74-year-old Shirley Southern. Southern, a widow who attended Monday's meeting, has glaucoma. She takes three medications for her eyes and estimates they cost at least $75 per month. Her insurance doesn't cover the cost. "I'm paying for it all out of my pocket," said Southern. Mimi Heald of Medford is also more than familiar with the situation. Her husband was on 18 or 19 prescriptions, in addition to morphine, before he died. "I think it's a good idea that the seniors should have free medications because they really need it," Heald said. That was the general consensus of those who attended the discussion. When Wyden said, "America can't afford not to help with prescriptions," a round of applause followed. Wyden said the SPICE bill is in the Senate Finance Committee now and probably will hit the Senate floor by summer. According to information from Wyden, the bill will provide prescription drug coverage for all Medicare-eligible senior citizens. The federal government will cover all or part of the premiums on a sliding scale based on income. Senior citizens will be able to choose from many competing benefit plans. The senator also addressed the issue of Oregon Medicare HMO members receiving less funding per member from the federal government than recipients in other states. Medicare's contribution to HMOs varies _ regions that have high per-patient costs get bigger Medicare reimbursements. Regions that have lower per-patient costs, such as Oregon, get smaller reimbursements. Some HMOs have terminated services for seniors in Southern Oregon and other areas where Medicare reimbursement is relatively low. "(Oregonians) are being discriminated against for holding the cost down," said Wyden, who introduced legislation last year to increase the Medicare reimbursement rate for HMO health plans. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA