The Myth of Drug Expiration Dates

I found this interesting article while surfing for some compelling content to post. It's no wonder health care is so expensive when hospitals, pharmacies and us patients are told that we need to toss out a drug that's past its expiration date. It's been found that many drugs are perfectly fine to use years after the date on the label has come and gone. -MM

Hospitals and pharmacies are required to toss expired drugs, no matter how expensive or vital. Meanwhile the FDA has long known that many remain safe and potent for years longer.

by Marshall Allen
ProPublica, July 18, 2017

The box of prescription drugs had been forgotten in a back closet of a retail pharmacy for so long that some of the pills predated the 1969 moon landing. Most were 30 to 40 years past their expiration dates — possibly toxic, probably worthless. 

But to Lee Cantrell, who helps run the California Poison Control System, the cache was an opportunity to answer an enduring question about the actual shelf life of drugs: Could these drugs from the bell-bottom era still be potent?

Cantrell called Roy Gerona, a University of California, San Francisco, researcher who specializes in analyzing chemicals. Gerona had grown up in the Philippines and had seen people recover from sickness by taking expired drugs with no apparent ill effects.

“This was very cool,” Gerona says. “Who gets the chance of analyzing drugs that have been in storage for more than 30 years?”

The age of the drugs might have been bizarre, but the question the researchers wanted to answer wasn’t. Pharmacies across the country — in major medical centers and in neighborhood strip malls — routinely toss out tons of scarce and potentially valuable prescription drugs when they hit their expiration dates.

Gerona and Cantrell, a pharmacist and toxicologist, knew that the term “expiration date” was a misnomer. The dates on drug labels are simply the point up to which the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies guarantee their effectiveness, typically at two or three years. But the dates don’t necessarily mean they’re ineffective immediately after they “expire” — just that there’s no incentive for drugmakers to study whether they could still be usable.

ProPublica has been researching why the U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world. One answer, broadly, is waste — some of it buried in practices that the medical establishment and the rest of us take for granted. We’ve documented how hospitals often discard pricey new supplies, how nursing homes trash valuable medications after patients pass away or move out, and how drug companies create expensive combinations of cheap drugs. Experts estimate such squandering eats up about $765 billion a year — as much as a quarter of all the country’s health care spending...

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President Obama's Weekly Address 9/26/15: Dispose of Your Expired and Unwanted Prescription Drugs

In this week's address, on “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day,” the President spoke about the importance of preventing and treating substance use disorders. Overdoses from prescription pain medications kill thousands of Americans every year, and more often than not, those drugs come from the family medicine cabinet. In addition, many heroin users started out by misusing prescription drugs. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and safely, conveniently, and responsibly dispose of expired and unwanted prescription drugs at collection sites throughout your community—no questions asked. Drug disposal programs are part of the President’s 2011 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan, which also included increasing education for prescribers, expanding Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, and pursuing Smart on Crime enforcement. In his address, the President called on us all to continue to work to reduce substance use disorders through evidence-based treatment, prevention, and recovery.

Prescription Drug Collection April 26, 10 am to 2pm at Police Department

From Middletown Alerts:

Turn in unwanted or expired medication for safe disposal at the Middletown Police Department on Saturday, April 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Middletown Police Department is located at Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway. Medications only. No needles please.

The collection is part of the National Take Back Initiative. Call 732-615-2039 for local information. Call the DEA at 1-800-882-9539 for program inquiries.

Baum: Open the books on insurance; Middletown's health-care strategy must be examined

The following Op-Ed was written by Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee Linda Baum. The Op-Ed addresses the high cost of Middletown's "double-platinum" self-insured health care plan that has an average cost of $31,000 per beneficiary (under a family plan) enrolled.

The Op-Ed appeared in Wednesday's printed edition of the Asbury Park Press and online HERE:


Middletown’s $9.3-million tab for health benefits has drawn attention recently, following a decision by the township to reduce hours for 25 employees who otherwise would have qualified for future health benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Linda Baum

My research shows that Middletown’s cost for medical benefits has risen 50 percent in the last decade. Prescription payouts have risen 100 percent during that time. Steady increases long pre-date the ACA, to which officials are pointing as a cause.

Failure to address this issue falls squarely on the shoulders of our local government. Township Committeeman and current Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, a Republican, has been in office since January 2005 and has had ample time to do something about this.

Former Committeeman Sean Byrnes, a Democrat, had proposed forming a task force of medical and insurance professionals to review and make recommendations with respect to the township’s health coverage, but the administration’s Republican majority rejected the idea.

Further, the township will not say who’s enrolled for benefits, another thing that needs review in order to get costs under control.

Knowing the names is not just a matter of weeding out people who should not be covered. We should be able to determine, for example, if retirees are properly categorized as retired vs. actively employed to ensure proper coordination of coverage. The information recently released by the township — minus the names — shows at least one person listed as “active” who is living across the country.

In July, a lawsuit was filed in state Superior Court to obtain the names of those enrolled for health benefits with Middletown Township, which claims that as a self-insured entity it is not required to release the information. Other local governments disagree. Earlier this year, Wall Township and the Wall Board of Education, both self-insured for health benefits, released the names of enrollees. And just recently, Monmouth County, which also is self-insured, did the same.

Middletown officials claim that they save money by self-insuring for health coverage, but it’s not clear how that was determined. A health insurance cost comparison prepared by the township compares Middletown’s cost of medical and pharmacy claims — self insureds pay claims rather than premiums — to the premium for a comparable plan through the State Health Benefits Program.

The comparison is faulty in that township enrollees who have other than single or family coverage — the two middle tiers are “employee and children” and “employee and spouse” — are dumped into the higher-premium family coverage bucket in determining the SHBP premium.

This improper distribution of enrollee counts inflates the estimated SHBP premium.

In addition, the analysis doesn’t reflect that one third of enrollees are retirees, for whom premiums are lower if Medicare is primary. Again, the effect is to inflate the estimated premium for the comparable coverage. The township’s self-insured cost would look better in comparison.

The poor math could easily result in an inaccurate conclusion about which insurance option is less costly for taxpayers.

Also, it is important to recognize that comparison of plans and plan costs should be done separately for medical vs. prescription coverage. The best insurance option for one may not be the best option for the other, so we should shop for these coverages separately. Wall, for example, self insures for medical benefits but has private insurance coverage with Medco for prescription benefits.

Because substantially similar benefits can vary widely in cost, it’s possible to achieve significant savings for taxpayers while still providing excellent benefits to township employees, including the 25 who would have qualified under the ACA.

Certainly, given the magnitude of the expenses we’re talking about, this is an area that deserves thorough review.

Mtown News Flash 4-26-13

From Middletown Alerts:

Unwanted Medication Drop Off April 27

Got Drugs? Turn in unwanted or expired medication for safe disposal at the Middletown Police Department on Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Police Headquarters is located at Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway. The collection is part of the National Take Back Initiative. Call 732-615-2039 for local information. Call the DEA at 1-800-882-9539 for program inquiries. Medications only. No needles please.


Business to Business Night April 30

Middletown’s Annual Business to Business Night will be held on Tuesday, April 30th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street. All Middletown business owners are invited to meet and network in a relaxed atmosphere with light fare from Chiafullo’s. The event will also represents Middletown’s official kick-off for the Paint the Town Pink campaign. Pink-up kits for businesses interested in participating will be available. The event is hosted by the Community Affairs Council and sponsored by Chiafullo’s, Suzie’s Sweet Shoppe, CMDS, The Write Angles LLC and Gateway Press. Reservations are suggested. RSVP to Lori Anne Oliwa at LoriAnne@TheWriteAngles.com.



Sandy Recovery Assessment – Participants Needed

The Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group is conducting assessments of unmet needs of flood damaged areas of Middletown and other communities. The assessment is being conducted by World Renew Disaster Response Services, a volunteer group that has responded to disasters in the US for more than 40 years. If you have been affected by Superstorm Sandy, please sto

p by at one of the centers listed below. Your participation will help paint a complete picture of the recovery needs of our community.

New Monmouth Walk-in Center
New Monmouth Baptist Church, at the Griggs Counseling Building (the white farmhouse to the left of the gymnasium), New Monmouth NJ 07748

• Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, April 29, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, April 30 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Leonardo Walk-in Center

Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo NJ 07737

• Saturday, May 4, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday, May 6, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, May 7, 12:00-7:00 pm

Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline May 1
www.disasterassistance.com
Superstorm Sandy survivors who had storm-related damages in New Jersey have just five days left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents must register for disaster assistance by midnight (EDT), May 1.

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/25/12: Preserving and Strengthening Medicare

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama spoke to the American people about the critical need to strengthen and preserve Medicare for our seniors and future generations, because those who have worked hard throughout their lives should not lose their homes or life savings just because they get sick. Through the President’s Affordable Care Act, nearly 5.4 million seniors have already saved an average of more than $700 on prescription drugs, preventive care services like mammograms are free without co-pay, and the President’s plan extends the life of Medicare by almost a decade by cracking down on waste, fraud, and overpayments. Republicans in Congress have put forward a very different plan that turns Medicare into a voucher program—under one plan forcing seniors to pay an extra $6,400 out of their own pocket for care-and effectively ends Medicare as we know it. The President believes that our seniors deserve better and will work with anyone to keep improving the current system to give our seniors the security and peace of mind they have earned.

Rep. Pallone: New Jersey Seniors Saved $198 Million on Prescription Drugs since 2010

Savings made possible by the Affordable Care Act

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senior Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health and a primary author of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), today announced Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey have saved $198,051,968 on their prescription drugs since 2010, and $64,480,926 since January 2012, an average of $829 per patient so far this year. The savings are made possible by the Affordable Care Act, which provides discounts on prescription drugs to seniors who fall in the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole.’

The Affordable Care Act currently provides a 50 percent discount to Medicare beneficiaries on brand-name drugs when they fall into the “donut hole” coverage gap. The discounts will gradually increase until the donut hole is fully closed in 2020. In addition, Medicare beneficiaries are now eligible for free key preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies, and a free annual wellness visit as a result of the Affordable Care Act. In the first seven months of 2012, 648,260 Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey took advantage of one or more free preventive service.

“Millions of seniors in New Jersey and across the country with Medicare are already seeing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, whether through savings on their prescription drugs or access to preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies free of charge,” said Pallone. “Clearly, the Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare and we must protect these important benefits so our seniors receive quality, affordable health care.”

Nationally, nearly 5.4 million seniors have saved more than $4.1 billion on prescription drugs as a result of the Affordable Care Act. In 2011, an estimated 32.5 million people with traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage across the country received one or more preventive benefits free of charge, and in 2012 alone 18 million people have received at least one free preventive service.

“With the economy struggling and so many seniors living on fixed incomes, these prescription drugs savings are critical to helping our seniors stay healthy. The Affordable Care Act will continue to improve Medicare in the years ahead as more benefits are available and the ‘donut hole’ is completely closed,” added Pallone.

Congressman Pallone and Senator Menendez Vow to Protect Medicare for New Jersey Seniors

For Immediate Release:
4/20/12

BELMAR, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) met with seniors at Matisse in Belmar, NJ to discuss the future of Medicare, Social Security and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The lawmakers also talked about Republican efforts to end the Medicare guarantee and reopen the Medicare Part D “donut hole” by repealing the ACA.  Pallone and Menendez were hosted by Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty.

 “Republicans in Congress have launched an all-out assault on seniors,” said Pallone.  “Whether it’s through their budget, which ends Medicare as we know it and turns it into a voucher program, or their attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has done so much to make health care more affordable for seniors, Republican policies are hurting seniors.  Senator Menendez and I will continue to fight to maintain the programs that are so critical for New Jersey’s seniors.

” The Republican House Majority recently passed a budget that slashes $1 trillion from Medicare over the next decade and ends the Medicare guarantee, shifting costs to seniors by privatizing the program and creating a voucher system. Based on estimates, this would increase seniors’ health costs by over $6,000 each year.

The Affordable Care Act, which was eliminated in the Republican House budget, has already resulted in real benefits for New Jersey’s seniors. Almost a million New Jersey seniors have taken advantage of free preventative health services now covered under Medicare, such as colonoscopies and mammograms. New Jersey seniors also saved more than $95 million on prescription drugs in 2011 because of discounts provided for in the health care law.

 “Respecting seniors in this country means protecting Medicare and Social Security, not cutting them so we can give tax breaks to Big Oil Companies and tax cuts to billionaires who don’t need them. I can tell you that I will continue to do all I can in Washington and here at home to keep our promise to seniors,” said Senator Menendez.

President Obama's Weekly Address 11/05/11: Vice President Biden " We Have to Increase the Pace"

Speaking from the University of Pittsburgh, Vice President Biden argues that this month’s jobs numbers demonstrate that Congress should pass the American Jobs Act to strengthen our economy and create jobs right away.

Crime Scene Middletown: Recent Activity Around Town From The Past Week

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On May 8, 2011 at approximately 2:45 pm Patrolman Keith Hirschbein was on patrol in the area of McMahon Park when he observed two juveniles in the area of the hockey rink. Officer Hirschbein approached the two juveniles at which point he detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the area.

On May 7, 2011 at approximately 2:40 am Patrolman Raymond Sofield was on patrol in the area of Pearl Street when he observed a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road with its interior light on. The vehicle was occupied by two subjects, identified as William Drummer, age 23, from Leslie Lane and Michael Cavalier, age 23, from Ned Court.

Patrolman Sofield approached the vehicle and detected a strong odor of raw Marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. The officer continued his investigation which resulted in both subjects being arrested and charged with Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana.

Both subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and released pending a court date.

On May 7, 2011 at approximately 4:00 am Corporal James Keenan and Corporal Thomas Meckier responded to a report of an accident at Highway 35 near Twinbrooks Drive. Upon arrival the officers determined that a vehicle driven by Matthew Lennox, age 21, from Walker Terrace, had driven through a work zone and struck the rear of a painting truck with an arrow board attached.

The officers continued their investigation which resulted in Lennox being charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Open alcohol in a motor vehicle, Reckless driving, Failing to wear a seatbelt, Prohibited use of a cell phone, and Failing to maintain lanes. He was released at Jersey Shore Medical Center where he was taken for treatment of his injuries sustained during the accident.

On May 6, 2011 at approximately 6:50 pm police responded to a residence on Main Street in Belford in reference to a report of a man who was acting violently. Upon arrival Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia located the subject, identified as Michael Thomas, age 20, from Main Street in Belford at the residence.

Thomas was screaming and shouting profanities which caused a small crowd to gather in the area. He refused numerous requests from Officer Fenezia to calm down at which point he was arrested for Disorderly Conduct.

He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 6, 2011 at approximately 7: 35 pm Detective Sullivan was off duty in the area of the Kohls Shopping center when he observed a subject, identified as William Deppisch, age 23, from Campbell Avenue in Belford, in the area of the stores. Detective Sullivan was aware that there was a $3,500 Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Holmdel Municipal Court for Deppisch’s arrest.

Detective Sullivan contacted police headquarters and requested a patrol officer to respond. Patrolman Charles Higgins arrived on scene and located Deppisch in the area. Deppisch was arrested on the warrant and was also found to be in possession of Alprazolam pills and Marijuana.

Deppisch was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with Possession of a prescription legend drug, Possession with intent to distribute a prescription legend drug, and Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. Deppisch was held on $53,500.00 bail with no 10% option set by Judge James Berube.

On May 6, 2011 at approximately 8:25 pm police responded to the Port Monmouth Foodtown in reference to a report of a shoplifting. Upon arrival Patrolman Michael Reuter was advised by store security that they observed the suspect, identified as Adam Stranges, age 19, from Seabreeze Avenue in Middletown, attempt to leave the store with two bottles of Captain Morgan’s Rum at which point he was detained.

Officer Reuter placed Stranges under arrest and transported him to police headquarters where he was charged with Shoplifting and Possession of Alcohol under age. He was processed and released pending a court date.

On May 5, 2011 at approximately 3:45 pm police responded to Normandy Park in reference to a report of a person who had found a baggie containing Marijuana and wished to turn it into the police. Upon arrival Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia retrieved the Marijuana from the caller and began an investigation.

Officer Fenezia was able to determine that the Marijuana belonged to a 15 year old male juvenile who was playing in the park. Patrolman Fenezia arrested the juvenile and transported him to police headquarters where he was charged with Possession of under 50 grams of Marijuana. The juvenile was processed and released to his father pending a court date.

On May 5, 2011 at approximately 1:30 am Police Officer Janine Kennedy was on patrol in the area of Leonardville Road in Belford when she observed a vehicle being operated in an unsafe manner. Officer Kennedy stopped the vehicle and approached the driver.

While speaking with the driver, identified as Vincent Usuriello, age 33, from Henry Place in Middletown, Officer Kennedy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.

The officer conducted an investigation which resulted in Usuriello being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

Usuriello was transported to police headquarters where he was issued additional summonses for Reckless Driving and Failing to Signal a Turn. He was processed and released.

On May 4, 2011 at approximately 12:50 pm Corporal Joseph Glynn responded to Middletown High School South in reference to a report of a student in possession of narcotics. Upon arrival Officer Glynn conducted an investigation which resulted in a 15 year old female student being arrested for Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Naproxen, Perbutalin, Cyclobenza and Amitriptyl. (All prescription medications). The student was transported to police headquarters where she was processed and released to her parents.

The Middletown Police Department arrested the following subjects on warrants

Erin Figel, age 25, from Algonquin Avenue in Oceanport, NJ, arrested on May 2, 2011 by Patrolman John Mele on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was released after posting $1,500.00 bail.

Kyle Hazard, age 21, from Willow Street in Point Pleasant, NJ, arrested on May 4, 2011 by Patrolman John Mele on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility.
Carissa Bossert, age 22, from Woods Ends Road in Middletown, arrested on May 4, 2011 by Patrolman Charles Higgins on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. She was released after posting $439.00 bail.

Scott Kruse, age 28, from Elyar Terrace in Middletown, arrested on May 3, 2011 by Patrolman Anthony Dellatacoma on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Red Bank Municipal Court. He was released after posting $175.00 bail.

James Laberdee, age 25, from Freemont Avenue in Seaside Heights, NJ, arrested on May 5, 2011 by Patrolman Ian May on a Superior Court warrant Issued by the Ocean County Superior Court. He was held on $14,621.79 bail.

Magan Close, age 35, from Port Monmouth Road in Port Monmouth, arrested on May 5, 2011 by Patrolman Michael Reuter on two Contempt of Court warrants. She was processed and released after posting $358.00 bail.

Alannah Heilweil, age 20, from Rutledge Drive arrested on May 5, 2011 by Patrolman Charles Higgins on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Wall Township Municipal Court. She was released after posting $140.00 bail.

Christopher Rosado, age 32, from Keystone Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, arrested on May 7, 2011 by Patrolman Felipe Benedit on warrants issued by the Middletown Municipal Court and the Monmouth County Superior Court. He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility.

Stanislav Tolstunov, age 32, from Prospect Avenue in Hackensack, NJ, arrested on May 5, 2011 by Corporal William Kennelly on a warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal court. He was released after posting bail.

Crime Scene Middletown: WOMAN ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION AFTER MOTOR VEHICLE STOP

PREPARED BY DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN DOLLINGER

On January 22, 2011 at approximately 2:15 am Patrolman Stephen Greenwood was on patrol when he observed a vehicle fail to stop at the stop sign at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Kings Highway East.

After stopping the vehicle and approaching the driver, identified as Meghan Walsh, age 19, from Normandy Court in Middletown, Officer Greenwood detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. Officer Greenwood advised Walsh of his observation and received consent to search the car.

Upon searching the vehicle, Patrolman Greenwood located loose marijuana and a pill bottle which contained Acetaminophen and Oxycodone Hydrochloride on the seat of the vehicle. Acetaminophen and Oxycodone Hydrochloride are prescription medications and Walsh did not have a lawful prescription from a doctor to possess the pills.

Walsh was placed under arrest and was transported to police headquarters. She was charged with Possession of a controlled dangerous substance and Possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. She was also issued a summons for the motor vehicle violation. She was processed and released on her own recognizance pending a court date.

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/7/10: Medicare Officially Safer After Health Reform

The President discusses a new Medicare Trustees report showing Medicare to be on much stronger footing as a result of the reforms in the Affordable Care Act. In addition, seniors are also already getting help with prescription drug costs when they fall into the infamous “donut hole.”



See more about Health Care

Pallone Announces First Round of $250 Rebate Checks Now Being Sent to Tens of Thousands of Seniors

For Immediate Release -

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced starting June 10, Medicare will begin mailing out to tens of thousands of seniors $250 ‘donut hole’ checks. Under the recently enacted health reform law, seniors who fall in the donut hole coverage gap in 2010 will receive this one-time tax-free $250 rebate check. These checks will continue to be mailed monthly over the next several months as seniors enter the coverage gap.

The checks are just the first benefit from health reform for seniors in the Medicare Prescription Drug program. Beginning in January 2011, seniors in the donut hole will receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs. By 2020, the donut hole will be completely closed.

“This is the first example of how the health care reform law will strengthen Medicare and help seniors,” said Pallone. “In the past, seniors who have fallen into the Medicare donut hole were forced to choose between food and prescriptions. Health reform is fixing these problems. Important reforms like this will continue to phase in throughout the year and make health care more affordable and accessible for millions of New Jersey’s seniors.”

The ‘donut hole’ coverage gap is the period in the prescription drug benefit (once their prescription drug costs exceed $2,830) in which the beneficiary pays 100 percent of the cost of their drugs until they hit the catastrophic coverage threshold.

Last year, roughly 109,000 Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey fell in the donut hole and received no extra help to defray the cost of their prescription drugs. Now, under health reform, help is on the way.

Medicare recipients don’t have to do anything to get the $250 check – once their drug costs for the year hit $2,830 the one-time check will be issued automatically. But seniors should be on the lookout for fraud. Seniors who want to learn more about this new benefit or how to protect themselves from fraud or scams should call 1-800-Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov, or contact the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) 1-800-792-8820 or http://www.state.nj.us/health/senior/ship.shtml.

President Obama's Weekly Adress: 5/8/10 Health Reform Starts to Kick In

The President goes through the benefits in health insurance reform that are already kicking in for young adults, retirees, and families, and says more benefits are coming down the pike.

NJPP Monday Minute 5/3/10: Taxing seniors with higher fees is not shared sacrifice

Thirty-six percent of the 1.5 million seniors living in New Jersey have incomes under $25,000. For them, budget cuts that raise living expenses will have the disastrous effect of pushing more seniors into poverty. Consider the following policy proposals made in Gov. Christie's proposed FY 2011 budget.

Homestead Rebates are eliminated - for both homeowners and tenants - for calendar year 2010.

The Homestead Rebate program is the state's most significant homeowner and tenant property tax relief program - paying over $1 billion to homeowners and $74 million to tenants in 2009. In that year, more than 500,000 senior homeowners received average rebate checks of $1,300; while more than 100,000 senior tenants were eligible for maximum rebates of $800. This year homeowners and tenants will receive nothing - no matter what their income or their property tax.

The Christie administration proposes to change this program to a credit program in 2011 - the first installment of which would be made in May 2011 more than a year from now. Only homeowners would be eligible for the credit; tenants would be excluded entirely from receiving a credit. The FY 2011 budget recommends $268 million for the first quarterly credit in May 2011 which presumably would show up as a deduction on the property tax bill - not as a check in the mail.

Since 1963 when the state enacted its income tax, payments have been made directly to homeowners and tenants. Last year, the state sent checks to senior citizen homeowners with incomes below $150,000 and tenants with income below $100,000. Eligibility has varied through the years but this is the first year in memory where no payments will be made.

Senior Property Tax Freeze Program closed to new participants

The Senior Property Tax Freeze Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled people for the amount their property taxes increase since the first year they become eligible for the program. The Christie administration would save about $26 million by closing this program to new eligible seniors in FY 2011 regardless of their income. Those already in the program would continue to benefit as long as their income remains below $70,000.

In 2009, this program paid out over $191 million to 136,000 repeat participants and 47,000 new participants. People already in the program received average checks just over $1,300; new participants received approximately $265. The 47,000 newly eligible seniors in 2009 cost the state $12.5 million.

In a year when property taxes are expected to increase because of severe cuts to school and municipal aid, the administration expects to pay just over $1,000 ($300 less than in FY 2010) to the 159,000 participating seniors in FY 2011.

Seniors likely will pay more for their prescription drugs

In order to save just over $140 million in prescription drug expenses for low income senior citizens, the Christie administration proposes to increase co-pays for brand name drugs to $15 from $7; decrease co-pays for generic drugs to $5 from $6; and institute a $310 annual deductible for the first time in history for those eligible for the Pharmaceutical Assistance for Aged and Disabled and Senior Gold programs.

Over 160,000 poor elderly residents participate in the PAAD and Senior Gold programs, according to the New Jersey Foundation for Aging. Couples over age 65 are eligible for PAAD if their incomes are under $29,956 and for Senior Gold if their incomes are under $39,956. Single individuals are eligible for PAAD if their incomes are under $24,432 and for Senior Gold if their incomes are under $34,432. For all of these people, the cost of getting the medicine they need to survive will likely increase based on the provisions included in the FY 2011 budget.

While encouraging use of generic over name brand medications is sensible in terms of cost, not every drug is available in generic form. About 36 percent of PAAD recipients use brand name prescriptions because no generic equivalent exists; another four percent use the brand name because their doctors believe the brand name is medically necessary. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services estimates that on average brand name medicines cost $119 compared to $18.71 for generic. AARP notes that the average person on PAAD takes 4 to 5 drugs each month. The combination of the new $310 annual deductible and drug price changes could mean that some low-income seniors could face significant increases in their medical costs.

Cutting prescription drug assistance and property tax relief for New Jersey's seniors, while giving the wealthy a tax break, does not represent compassion and shared sacrifice. Gov. Christie's plan will see more seniors rationing drugs, getting sicker and ending up in emergency rooms and nursing homes that will cost taxpayers even more. New Jersey can do better than target the elderly who can barely afford to make ends meet.