The Task Force on Women and Aging recognizes the importance to older women of a number of proposals, which may be considered by Federal legislators during coming months, particularly regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. While not ignoring these, because of the immediacy of the Wisconsin State budget crisis and the value of maximizing our effectiveness through collaboration with other state organizations, the Task Force has decided to focus on two state level issues in 2003.

Long-term Care
The Task Force urges our legislators and governor to protect and maintain the Family Care and the Community Options programs and expand them so that more counties may be served and waiting lists reduced. Both are demonstrated cost effective programs. While 80-85% of older persons prefer to remain in their own homes (which in many instances could be accomplished through community based services), 75% of long-term care dollars in Wisconsin continue to go to nursing homes. Approximately 85% of nursing home residents are women, both because of greater longevity than men but also because older men are much more likely to have a wife caregiver and a higher retirement income to maintain them at home, while women are likely to be widows with lower income. Younger women are also impacted because they are most likely to be the family members who undertake care of older family members. Assuming that responsibility commonly affects their ability to maintain their employment and consequent financial preparations for their own later years.

SeniorCare and Fair Pricing of Prescription Medications
Protecting SeniorCare benefits is a top priority for the Task Force. But more needs to be done for other seniors, as well.

The rising cost of prescription drugs has created a major problem for many older women, according to the OWL Mother's Day Report 2000. For years, drug prices have been rising faster than inflation. While the Consumer Price Index rose 98% between 1980 and 1998, drug prices increased by 256 % (Social Security cost-of-living raises are based on the Consumer Price Index). Between January 2001 and January 2002, prices of the 50 drugs most prescribed to seniors rose on average nearly three times the rate of inflation. One out of three older women lack any prescription drug coverage. Medicare has no outpatient drug provision. Millions of women Medicare recipients pay more than $1200 a year out-of pocket for prescription drugs and more millions pay between $612 and $1200. In 1997, the average income for women over the age of 65 was $14,820 (men in the same age group averaged $26,543).

Fair pricing of prescription medications is a complex issue with important financial implications for the State and its taxpayers, as well as older women. Public officials and aging advocates are studying and considering a number of programs already established in other states (including multi-state buying pool, preferred drug purchasing list), with an eye to adopting/adapting provisions which would best benefit Wisconsin. The Task Force will establish our position as alternative become more defined.