April 4, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The entire Wisconsin Congressional delegation expressed disappointment today with the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to deny a waiver extending SeniorCare, effectively ending this popular, successful prescription drug program for seniors in Wisconsin. “We regret this decision by HHS to deny the state’s request to extend SeniorCare. As a delegation, we were united in our support for this program and regret that Secretary Leavitt did not agree that its benefits to patients and cost-savings to the federal government are worth keeping,” said Sens. Feingold and Kohl and Reps. Obey, Baldwin, Kagen, Moore, Kind, Petri, Ryan, and Sensenbrenner.

When the federal Medicare Part D plan went into effect in January 2006, SeniorCare was granted a waiver to continue until June 2007. Last July, the entire delegation sent a letter supporting the request to extend the program to DHHS Secretary Michael Leavitt. The entire delegation sent another letter in support of SeniorCare in March of this year.

“This is a shortsighted decision by the Administration to kill a successful program that saves money and simplifies health care for seniors. During our Aging Committee hearing last week we provided plenty of evidence that SeniorCare offers superior prescription drug coverage to that of Medicare Part D, costs taxpayers less, and seniors in Wisconsin widely prefer to keep it,” said Kohl. “I am disappointed that the Administration chose to ignore the facts and the will of the people in Wisconsin.” Sen. Kohl said.

“The Administration’s denial of the SeniorCare waiver is unacceptable. Wisconsinites are well served by the SeniorCare program and it is wrong for the Administration to push its flawed prescription drug program at the expense of Wisconsin seniors and American taxpayers. I will continue to work with Governor Doyle and the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to ensure SeniorCare continues.” Sen. Feingold said.

“The Administration’s decision is misguided and wrong! It is clear that, regardless of the facts, they are trying to push everybody into Part-D, even when better options are available – and SeniorCare is clearly a better option for Wisconsin’s seniors,” said Rep. Obey. “The President should reverse this decision.”

“The Bush Administration ought to be ashamed of this action,” said Rep. Baldwin. “The Administration's arguments just don't hold water. SeniorCare saves the federal government money. It is a popular, comprehensive and affordable program and is much less complicated than the Medicare Part D drug benefit. This seems to be yet another example of the Bush Administration ignoring the voice of the people in favor of their special interest friends,” Baldwin said.

"SeniorCare is a good program and something that many seniors in our state have come to rely on. It's cost-effective and has worked well. I am disappointed by Secretary Leavitt's decision, but I will continue to work with my congressional colleagues in support of our seniors." Rep. Petri said.

"I think this is the wrong decision. We have a program that works and one that people like. Wisconsin ought to be able to continue this program," Rep. Ryan said.

"It is unfortunate that the Administration did not honor Wisconsin’s request to be kind to our elders by granting a waiver extension to the most successful prescription drug program in America - SeniorCare. I am disappointed in the President and his Administration's decision to end SeniorCare and for failing to listen to the will of the people," Dr. Kagen said.

"Seniors all over Wisconsin tell me what a life-saver the SeniorCare program is to them, and their interests are our top priority. We cannot allow Wisconsin seniors to fall through the cracks of this bureaucratic fight, and will work to ensure they continue to get the care they need and deserve. We will continue to explore all of our options in an effort to save this landmark program that supports more than 100,000 Wisconsin seniors,” Rep. Kind said.

“Given SeniorCare’s tremendous benefits to Wisconsin’s elderly and the reduced costs to the taxpayers, this overwhelmingly successful program clearly deserved to be extended,” Congresswoman Moore said. “Instead, the Administration has turned its back on Wisconsin’s seniors. I will continue to press the Administration to extend this program to provide the best possible prescription drug plan for Wisconsin's seniors.” Rep. Moore said.

"I am disappointed with the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services in rejecting a continuation of Wisconsin SeniorCare," said Rep. Sensenbrenner. "I am also disappointed in Governor Doyle for not providing HHS with the proper information needed to make a determination. We must carefully read the rejection letter. The letter from HHS stated, 'Wisconsin’s renewal application for Senior Care did not address issues we previously identified as crucial to our consideration of a request for an extension.' This is not the time to play a game of chicken with our Senior Citizens. I urge Governor Doyle and HHS to sit down and come to a common sense resolution."