back December 21, 2005   Reps. Green, Ryan: Process to provide joint SeniorCare-Medicare drug coverage kicks off Wednesday Reps say bids to provide “wrap-around” coverage – permitting Wisconsin SeniorCare recipients to also participate in Medicare prescription drug plan – are expected to begin being accepted Wednesday In October, after months of pressure from both U.S. Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) and Mark Green (R-Green Bay), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would provide a waiver permitting the state of Wisconsin to concurrently operate SeniorCare – the popular state health care program – with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit scheduled to take effect in January 2006. On Wednesday, Green and Ryan said the process of providing joint SeniorCare-Medicare coverage is expected to begin with the opening of a request for bids to provide the combined coverage, known in bureaucratic jargon as a “wrap-around.” “This is more good news for Wisconsin seniors,” Green said. “First, we were able to save SeniorCare by pushing federal agencies hard for many months, telling them it was the right thing to do and refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer. Today, we are taking the first step in actually implementing the plan to allow Wisconsin seniors to keep their SeniorCare while still being able to participate in the new Medicare prescription drug program. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to get done on this issue and I’m happy that Wisconsin seniors will continue to be able to make the health care choices they believe are best for them.” Under the plan negotiated with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Wisconsin seniors will be given the option of supplementing their current SeniorCare coverage with the best aspects of the Medicare “Part D” prescription drug plan. Wednesday’s acceptance of bids represents the commencement of this implementation. “It is great to see CMS working with our state to take concrete steps to integrate SeniorCare benefits with the Medicare prescription drug benefit. We would have preferred to reach this point in the process earlier, but it is important progress that’s essential to protecting our seniors’ flexibility and benefits,” Ryan said.  Bids are due January 13. The joint coverage is expected to begin in March.  Print Contact: Chris Tuttle (Green) 202-226-7402 Kate Matus (Ryan) 202-226-7326