By John McCarthy
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - About 2 million seniors and low-income Ohioans would be helped by a prescription drug plan forged by drug makers and a coalition of unions, seniors and other consumers, the plan's backers said Thursday.

The plan would cover all Ohioans age 60 or older and residents without drug insurance coverage who earn 21/2 times the federal poverty level or less, said William Burga, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO and one of the plan's chief architects.

The eligibility figure is $22,450 for a single person or $46,000 for a family of four.

The agreement, called Ohio's Best Rx, was announced this week by the Coalition for Affordable Drug Prices and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA. The two groups' governing boards announced Thursday they had approved the plan.

The coalition represents unions, AARP/Ohio, the Ohio Council of Churches, the Ohio Nurses' Association and the League of Women Voters.

Lawmakers would have to agree to the plan. Leaders in the House and Senate say the legislation will be a priority this fall.

Under the proposed legislation, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services would administer the plan. A commission of four lawmakers, representatives of the AFL-CIO, AARP, Ohio United Way, a disability advocacy group, the Ohio Alliance of Retired Citizens and three people representing drug makers would oversee the program.

Manufacturers who balk at offering certain medications in the plan would face limited participation in other state prescription drug programs, such as the mail-in plan for state employees.

Burga cautioned against changes in the plan, which resulted from months of negotiations between the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, and the coalition.

"If there is any attempt to circumvent it, that will be challenged," Burga said. "We will be watching it every step of the way."

PhRMA spokesman Kurt Malmgren said the group appreciated the Legislature giving the parties time to negotiate.

"The outcome for Ohio is better than protracted and wasteful conflict," Malmgren said.

Once the Legislature approves the program, the coalition will drop an issue it planned to put on the Nov. 4 ballot. While the two sides were negotiating, PhRMA had challenged the certification of thousands of signatures needed to put the issue before voters.

Job and Family Services spokesman Dennis Evans said his agency had just received the proposed legislation and was still reviewing it.

Ohio's Best Rx

Highlights of a prescription drug program, to be called Ohio's Best Rx, negotiated between a coalition of consumers and drug makers:

 Will reach all Ohioans 60 or older, regardless of income, and residents who earn 21/2 times the federal poverty level or less. The eligibility limit is $22,450 for a single person or $46,000 for a family of four.

 Requires all manufacturer rebates to be passed through to help fund Ohio's Best Rx, rather than going to the program's manager.

 Establishes a Prescription Drug Review Commission to ensure oversight. The commission will include four lawmakers, representatives of the Ohio AFL-CIO, AARP, Ohio United Way, a disability advocacy group, the Ohio Alliance of Retired Citizens and three people representing drug makers.

 Authorizes the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to administer the program.

 Includes every prescription drug to which the manufacturer agrees to offer a rebate. Drug makers that fail to deliver a drug would face limited participation in other state drug programs.

Source: The Coalition for Affordable Drug Prices