Doctor and senior woman wearing facemasks during coronavirus and flu outbreak. Virus protection. COVID-2019..

A new House bill introduced Thursday would provide dualeligibles living in assisted living facilities with the same co-pay coverageunder Medicare Part D as nursing home residents. 

Long-term care providers, including the Assisted Living Federation of America and the National Center for Assisted Living, praised Rep. Lloyd Doggett(D-TX) and 13 other congressmen for introducing the bill. Dual eligibles inassisted living facilities take, on average, eight to ten prescriptionmedication with co-pays that range from $1 to $5, according to theAmerican Health Care Association. Insome cases, the added costs of their medications exceed their allotted Medicaidallowance. Dual eligibles receive both Medicare and Medicaid coverage

The Medicare Part D Home and Community ServicesCo-Payment Equity Act of 2008 (H.R. 5604) was originally proposed as a Housecompanion bill to a Senate health bill.