Hawai'i seniors warned of Medicare drug gap

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Nov/26/ln/ln01a.html

Hawai'i Rx, approved by the Legislature last year, would create a purchasing pool to negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers on behalf of members, who would be able to buy the drugs at local participating pharmacies at a discount.

Gov. Lingle criticized the program initially, but said this month she favors amendments to protect it from the type of legal challenges faced by a similar program in Maine. Hawai'i's program is to take effect in July.

The program should help middle-class seniors who do not qualify for benefits under the federal drug plan, Marchildon said. "The combination will put Hawai'i in the forefront of national healthcare policy, he said.

[La_Serpiente]

1. The program will probably survive legal challenges

If the Maine program survived the Supreme Court, I am sure the Hawaii one will.