Published in Pawtucket Times on September 9, 2002

Tomorrow’s primary election means time has now run out for gubernatorial state legislative and congressional candidates.

For the past several months, these political candidates attended hundreds of public events scattered throughout the Ocean State, bearing gifts of political stickers, bumper stickers and campaign literature at every stop they make.

No doubt you will agree that this election cycle was no different than any other one. Older Rhode Islanders were bombarded with campaign literature outlining candidates’ positions on specific senior issues.

During this year’s campaign, seniors repeatedly told political candidates to fix the problem of rising pharmaceutical costs. It was no surprise that one Democratic candidate told me at a recent fundraiser in Pawtucket’s Slater Park that the hot topic for seniors this year was the issue of costly pharmaceuticals, concerns he’d heard over and over again at coffees and events. This would be a primary issue his campaign would address, he assured.

But with complicated senior issues, like how to pay for costly pharmaceutical drugs, how can you get beyond the smoke and mirrors of political campaigns?

Here’s my advice – seniors must not believe everything they read. They must become savvy shoppers when reading a candidate’s position papers and/or campaign literature about their solutions to aging policy issues.

One must listen closely to the candidates, and more importantly, read between the lines.

For instance, Myrth York, calls for Rhode Island to negotiate tough deals with the pharmaceutical industry to reduce prices, insisting these companies should provide Rhode Island with the same discounts that they provide government agencies and federal programs.

Furthermore, she   goes on to say that Maine has created a similar program that other states across the country are starting to replicate.

“Good idea, but not applicable in the near future,” said Rep. Antonio Pires, who is running against the former state senator for governor in the Democratic primary.

“The pharmaceutical industry has tied that initiative up in the courts and the program is not in operation yet,” he told All About Seniors. While York’s idea may be a good one, can it get implemented quality?

Democrats gubernatorial candidates Pires, York and Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse all call for the expansion of the state prescription drug program Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to Elders (RIPAE) to help older Rhode Islanders afford medication they need, via a Medicaid waiver to bring in federal dollars to pay for the expansion. This solution which everyone supports, sounds too good to be true.

Again, you must read between the lines.

Don’t expect this Medicaid waiver to materialize overnight, next week or even by next year. Some say that it will take some time to get this federal fix in place.

So, the quickest solution to lowering the cost of costly prescriptions drugs may well come at the federal rather than the state level, from Congress itself.

Political posturing about a particular party’s legislative proposal may look good in print, in a campaign ad or in a political commercial, but it won’t ultimately make prescription drugs cheaper in the near future.

The Democrat and Republican approach to providing seniors with prescription relief won’t gain the needed momentum for passage by Congress, so a bipartisan compromise is needed.

Now it’s on the shoulders of the Rhode Island delegation in Congress to work together to craft a meaningful compromise.

While the political candidates debate the pharmaceutical costs, they must not forget the other senior issues that must be addressed.

There is a need to being more assisted living facilities on line for moderate and low-income seniors. Don’t forget the need for affordable option for frail or low-income seniors.

Add to these housing issues the need to adequately fund a seamless continuum of long-term care services, from nursing facilities to community-based services. Adequate funding and resources must be allocated to state agencies to perform their legislative oversight responsibilities.

There must also be continued effort and energy directed by state policymakers to solve the state’s severe staffing shortage that continues to afflict both nursing facilities and home health agencies.

One lawmaker told me that the state budget deficit could well reach $ 250 billion. If true, this is not good news for those who want long-term solutions and not Band-Aid fixes to problems facing seniors.

Be a savvy shopper when you are reviewing the piles of campaign literature dropped at your door. It may look pleasing to the eye, but a severe budget deficit may ultimately make that promise just pie in the sky.