State awards contract to provide prescription drug coverage

The state has awarded the contract to provide prescription drug coverage for low income seniors.

Fidelity Security Life Insurance will provide the insurance and Pharmaceutical care Network will provide pharmacy benefit management of the program.

"This is an important step in the implementation of SenioRx," said Gov. Kenny Guinn. Providing the benefit to low income seniors was one of Guinn's goals in his first State of the State message.

The first attempt to interest insurance carriers in the idea was unsuccessful. Fidelity Security Life was one of several bidders on the revised proposal issued in June. Under Senior Rx, the state will pay up to $480 annually to subsidize the cost of insurance to cover prescription medicines for low income Nevada seniors.

Guinn said about 10,000 seniors are expected to qualify. he said open enrollment for the program will begin in January.