By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Governor Jay Nixon signed legislation today reauthorizing the state's prescription drug assistance program for low-income seniors for three more years.
Missouri Rx pays half of the cost of prescription drugs, including co-pays and deductibles, for eligible seniors. It's designed to cover the gap in Medicare prescription drug benefits known as the donut hole. The governor says the program will still be needed, even as President Obama phases in his overhaul of the health care system.
"There could be some rules and regulations later on but the line is that this extension was necessary," says Nixon. "There is no other federal law that is or will completely take care of this problem."
More than 212,000 individuals are enrolled in Missouri Rx. The legislation authorizes $20 million for each of the next three years, which the governor's administration says is enough to cover those who are enrolled.