An estimated 100,000 Minnesotans will continue to receive prescription drugs that have been held up by a federal government computer problem.
The state Executive Council - composed of the five statewide elected officials - on Wednesday extended for 30 days a short-term order Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed Saturday. For the next month, the state will pay for prescriptions that the computer glitch has stalled.
Low-income Medicare patients are supposed to receive free or cheaper medicine. However, the computer glitch means some are incorrectly being asked to pay a $250 deductible before the federal government will pay for the drugs.
Federal officials say they hope to fix the computer soon.
Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Kevin Goodno said with the state filling in for federal aid, people who are supposed to get medication free or at reduced rates should not be asked to pay as they have been. The state paid more than $1 million for drugs in 26,000 prescriptions in the first three days that the state stepped in.
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The problem comes about when low-income senior citizens try to fill prescriptions and pharmacists cannot verify that one of the new private Part D insurance plans covers them. In some cases, pharmacies have gone ahead and filled the prescriptions without asking for money. In other cases, senior citizens have been asked to pay for the drugs themselves.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Don Davis at (651) 290-0707
