Gov. Jim Doyle and members of the Wisconsin Democratic congressional delegation today announced that the Obama administration has extended the state's prescription drug program, SeniorCare, to 2012.

SeniorCare had been scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2009, but President Barack Obama and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, after reviewing the merits of the program, officially granted the extension.

"I am deeply thankful to the president and the entire Obama administration for making sure that SeniorCare remains an option for nearly 90,000 Wisconsin seniors," Doyle said. "SeniorCare not only gives our seniors the medications they need at a reasonable price, but it also saves Wisconsin taxpayers millions of dollars. During this tough economic time, our state continues to ensure that seniors have access to this cost-effective program.  I would like to thank Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Congressman Dave Obey (D-Wausau) for all they did to keep SeniorCare a prescription drug option for seniors in Wisconsin. Their work was instrumental in gaining the SeniorCare extension."

"The administration made the right decision," Kohl said. "It must have been clear to them, as it is to me, that SeniorCare is vital and could not be allowed to expire. I want to congratulate Gov. Doyle for making this happen."

 "It's about time we had an administration willing to take a cue from health care delivery systems that work," Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said. "President Obama knows that SeniorCare gives seniors in our state affordable access to the prescription drugs they need – it works! Part of comprehensive health care reform is going to be getting pharmaceutical costs for seniors under control, and I am glad that Wisconsin's seniors have a head start with Senior Care."

Unlike Medicare Part D, SeniorCare has a $30 annual enrollment fee, an income-based deductible and co-payments of $5 for generic drugs or $15 for brand drugs.

The annual federal cost per enrollee for SeniorCare is $588 and is significantly lower than the average Part D beneficiary cost of $1,690, according to the Doyle administration. This difference alone accounts for an annual savings to taxpayers and the federal government of more than $90 million. The state of Wisconsin is also able to leverage additional savings because it can use its bargaining power to negotiate the lowest prices for prescription drugs.