"Today, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) praised Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and his co-sponsors for their introduction of the Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2007. This legislation would provide dual eligibles - those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid - living in our nation's assisted living residences and other home- and community-based settings (HCBS) the same copay coverage under Medicare Part D as those residing in nursing facilities. "

" "We applaud Sen. Smith's leadership and steadfast support on an issue that is critically important to assisted living's low-income and frail elderly beneficiaries," said David Kyllo, Executive Director of NCAL. "Our residents require the same number of medications as nursing facility residents, yet, this group of low-income assisted living residents is unable to afford their co-payments and therefore is denied access to their life-saving medicines." "

" AHCA/NCAL also praised the bill's bi-partisan cosponsors, which include Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Bill Nelson (D-FL). "

" According to research, dual eligible assisted living residents take eight to 10 medications, and with Part D drug copays ranging from $1 to $5 dollars, their expenditures can quickly add up and exceed the resident's monthly personal allowance under Medicaid. "

" "Remedying this gap in prescription coverage is based upon simple common sense, and is supported by a coalition of more than 35 national organizations representing consumers, geriatric care professionals, health care and long term care providers, pharmacists, and state officials," said Kyllo. NCAL led the coalition to garner
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