Christie to halt cuts in senior aid

TRENTON - Gov. Christie announced Wednesday that he had found a way to rescind his proposed cuts to prescription plans for New Jersey's senior and disabled citizens.

Christie's budget, which he presented in March, called for adding a $310 deductible to prescription plans and raising co-pays for brand-name drugs from $7 to $15.

The Republican governor on Wednesday said those cuts won't be needed because they will be offset by increased rebate collections from drug manufacturers, more people using generic drugs, and expanded eligibility for enrollment in a Medicare low-income subsidy program.

In fact, there's enough money to lower the co-pay for generic drugs to $5, Christie said.

The deductibles and co-pays apply to the Senior Gold program and to Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled.

"While many New Jerseyans have had to share in the sacrifice of this year's trying economic and fiscal conditions, it is important we still provide health care for those most vulnerable in our society," Christie said.

Democrats have been pushing the governor to initiate a surtax on those making $1 million or more, in part to restore the prescription benefits. They also want to restore property-tax rebates for seniors and the disabled. The governor has said he will veto any tax increase.

Democrats welcomed the restored funding but still pushed the idea of the so-called millionaire's tax, saying that seniors and the disabled were still hurt by property taxes.

"It's about time Gov. Christie started coming around to our point of view on protecting senior citizens, and we welcome him to this discussion sparked by the Democratic Legislature," Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said. "The governor's plan still shoves at least a $1,295 property-tax increase onto senior and disabled residents, and that's unacceptable."

The announcement comes a day before Christie, his health commissioner, and Democratic leaders were to meet with more than 350 members of the New Jersey AARP.

AARP's Marilyn Askin says the move means that more than 100,000 senior and disabled people who participate in the plans won't see increases.

"The vast majority of New Jersey citizens participating in these two programs have little or no alternative," Askin said. "They cannot increase their incomes, nor can they do without their life-sustaining prescriptions."