Prescription Drugs
Massachusetts Prescription Advantage: An AARP Survey
Research Report
Erica L. Dinger, J.D., AARP Knowledge Management
March 2003
In an effort to balance the state budget, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has cut funding to Prescription Advantage, the state's prescription assistance program for age 65+ residents and younger persons with qualified disabilities, and has proposed eliminating it as of June 30, 2003.
This random telephone survey of 1,000 Massachusetts residents age 40 and older found that residents support the Prescription Advantage program and want it maintained. Of those polled...
- 76 percent support maintaining the Prescription Advantage program
- 56 percent support maintaining the Prescription Advantage program even if that meant less money for other government programs
- 65 percent or more support maintaining Prescription Advantage by raising the sales tax of a cent, raising the tax on beer and wine, or raising the tax on liquor
- 82 percent support restoring funding to Prescription Advantage to reinstate benefits lost to the governor's budget cuts
Interviews for this survey were conducted for AARP by Woelfel Research, Inc. between March 3 and 17, 2003. The report was prepared by Erica Dinger of AARP Knowledge Management, who may be contacted at 202/434-6176 for further information. (13 pages)