Morrisette seeks to grow drug plan.

Byline: David Steves The Register-Guard

SALEM - Sen. Bill Morrisette is wasting little time in broadening the prescription-drug initiative he spearheaded last fall.

The Springfield Democrat on Tuesday brought to the Senate floor a follow-up plan to expand the voter-created prescription drug purchasing pool. The Senate voted 21-5 to let businesses, labor unions and people who are considered "underinsured" seek discounted prescription drugs through state bulk purchasing.

Morrisette defined underinsured Oregonians as those with medical coverage that carries high premiums or with limited lists, or "formularies," of prescriptions that are covered by their insurance plans.

Morrisette is the Legislature's most high-profile advocate of cutting consumers' medication costs by pooling their purchases through the state - which can use its economy of scale to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for deeper discounts than individuals or small employers could land on their own.

In 2003 he was among the lead lawmakers in a push to let low-income seniors purchase drugs through the state's bulk purchasing program, then open only to state agencies. Last session, Morrisette and other lawmakers tried to expand the program to low-income Oregonians of all ages without drug coverage, as well as to businesses and other entities.

But opposition from the pharmaceutical lobby blocked that bill - prompting Morrisette and several consumer and labor lobby groups to join in taking the plan to the voters.

The result, Measure 44, passed with 79 percent of the vote after appearing on the ballot with virtually no opposition.

The measure expanded eligibility to all Oregonians without drug coverage, regardless of age or income level.

Since its passage, enrollment has reached 13,245, up from about 4,000 in November.

Administrators of the state plan have reported consumer savings of 10 percent to 60 percent.

The Senate's approval of Morrisette's latest expansion plan comes just months after Measure 44 took effect, as well as the formation by Oregon and Washington of a joint pool that makes residents of both states eligible for coverage and further reduces prescription drug costs.

Given the rapid expansion in recent months, Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, questioned the need for the latest expansion, Senate Bill 362.

"I don't think this will work," he said. "We seem to be rushing towards something that is undefined. We had an expansion of this program via the ballot measure. We need to allow that to mature."

Morrisette called Kruse's comments "misguided." He said the same arguments came up last session when the Legislature refused to pass his bill before he took the plan directly to the ballot.

MORE INFO

Any Medicare recipient or uninsured Oregonian already may join the Oregon Prescription Drug Program. For more information:

Phone: [phone]

The Web: www.OPDP.org