THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, February 1, 2019 Page 17 commission was part of the controversial law to legalize recreational marijuana. Several of the recommendations simply treat Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE – The final count is in and the numbers show that a total of 6,122 pieces of legislation were proposed by the state’s 160 House members and 40 Senate members by last Friday’s deadline for consideration in the new 2019-2020 session. Representatives filed 3,947 while senators came up with 2,175. That deadline is not etched in stone as many bills are filed over the next two years and are admitted late by a required two-thirds vote from the House and Senate. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. CAMPAIGN FINANCE – Last Tuesday, January 22, was the deadline by which candidates for the Legislature were required to file their final fundraising and spending report for 2018 with the Office of Campaign and Finance. Beacon Hill Roll Call has examined the campaign finance reports for the current 40 state senators and reports the dollar amounts for local senators. “The Department of Public Utilities is committed to ensuring electric ratepayers across the commonwealth are provided with a high level of service, especially during times of extreme weather events,” said DPU Chair Angela O’Connor. “Following a comprehensive investigation which focused on preparations before the storm, restoration efforts after the storm and communications with affected communities, the department found that National Grid’s storm response did not meet existing protocols and did not provide the required restoration efforts to its ratepayers.” As part of its investigation, the DPU found that National Grid did not properly classify the severity of the storm, and as a result fewer resources were available for customers and communities, which ultimately affected the restoration efforts. Additionally, the DPU found that the company did not adequately communicate with its customers or public officials. These communications problems hampered restoration efforts and, among other things, kept customers from having accurate information about expected restoration times. DRIVING HIGH – Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation to implement the recommendations made by the Cannabis Control Commission’s Special Commission on Operating Under the Influence and Impaired Driving. Creation of the marijuana-impaired driving the same as drunk driving. A driver suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana who refuses to take a chemical test for impairment would lose his or her license for a minimum of six months, the same as the current penalty imposed on a suspected drunken driver who refuses to take a breathalyzer test. Driving with unsealed packages of marijuana in the vehicle would be treated the same as a person under current law who drives with open containers of alcohol in the car. Other provisions include adopting a law authorizing courts to take judicial notice that ingesting THC, the active chemical in marijuana, can and does impair motorists; developing educational materials and programming on drug impairment to share with trial court judges; and directing the Municipal Police Training Committee to expand the training of drug recognition experts and allow them to testify as expert witnesses in civil and criminal cases. “Today’s proposal includes important changes that will make Massachusetts safer and improve how police officers train for detecting the influence of intoxicating substances like marijuana, how they interact with motorists who show signs of impairment, and eventually how these cases are tried in a courtroom,” said Gov. Baker. “Our administration views these improvements as the next deliberative step for the Commonwealth and the Cannabis Control Commission to continue implementing the legalization of recreational marijuana safely and responsibly, and we look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to pass this bill into law.” “With the legalization of adult-use marijuana establishments here in the Commonwealth since 2016 and with the recent approval by the Cannabis Control Commission of new licensees this past fall, it is absolutely essential that police officers stand ready to address the potential dangers posed by some motorists who choose to operate a motor vehicle while impaired after consuming marijuana,” said Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, the President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. During the week of January 21-25, the House met for a total of five hours and 32 minutes while the Senate met for a total of three hours and nine minutes. Mon., January 21 – No House session, no Senate session. Tues., January 22 – House: 11:01 a.m. to 11:04 a.m.; Senate: 11:40 a.m. to 11:43 a.m. Wed., January 23 – No House session; no Senate session. Thurs., January 24 – House: 11:04 a.m. to 4:33 p.m.; Senate: 11:08 a.m. to 2:14 p.m. Fri., January 25 – No House session; no Senate session. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com. Law Offices Of Joseph D. CatalDo, p.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, MST, PFS, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee Savvy Senior How to Save Money on Your Medication Dear Savvy Senior, I take several medications for multiple health conditions and the prices keep going up, even with insurance. Can you recommend any tips that can help me save? Price-Gouged Patty Dear Patty, The rising cost of prescription drugs is a problem that stings millions of Americans. While there’s no one solution, there are some different strategies and resources that can help reduce your drug costs, so you can afford what you need. Here are several to consider. If you have insurance, know your drug formulary: Most drug plans today have formularies (a list of medications they cover) that place drugs into different “tiers.” Drugs in each tier have a different cost. A drug in a lower tier will generally cost you less than a drug in a higher tier, and higher tier drugs may require you to get permission or try another medication first before you can use it. To get a copy of your plan’s formulary, visit your drug plan’s website or call the 800 number on the back of your insurance card. Once you have this information, share it with your doctor so, if possible, he or she can prescribe you medications in the lower-cost tiers. Or, they can help you get coverage approval from your insurer if you need a more expensive drug. You also need to find out if your drug plan offers preferred pharmacies or offers a mail-order service. Buying your meds from these sources can save you some money too. Talk to your doctor: Ask your doctor if any of the medications you’re currently taking can be reduced or stopped. And, find out if the ones you are taking are available in generic form. About 80 percent of all premium drugs on the market today have a lower-cost alternative. Switching could save you between 20 and 90 percent. Ask for a three-month prescription: This can be significantly cheaper for drugs you take long-term. If you use insurance, you’ll pay one co-pay rather than three. Split your pills: Ask your doctor if the pills you’re taking can be cut in half. Pill splitting allows you to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one. If you do this, you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage you need. Find and use online discounts: Start by trying GoodRx.com, BlinkHealth.com or WeRx.org. They will ask for the name of the drug, the dose, the number of pills, and where you live. Then they will show you what you can expect to pay at various pharmacies if you use their discount coupons or vouchers, which you can print out or download to your phone to show a pharmacist. Pay cash: Most generic medications cost less if you don’t use your insurance. For example, chains like Target and Walmart offer discount-drug programs that sell generics for as little as $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply if you pay out-of-pocket. While some insurance companies charge a $10 copay for a 30-day supply. Also ask your pharmacy if they offer a drug discount card program and compare costs with your insurance plan. You can also find free drug discount cards online at sites like NeedyMeds. org, which can be used at most U.S. pharmacies. Shop online: You can also save by using an online pharmacy like HealthWarehouse.com but be sure to use an online retailer that operates within the U.S. and is licensed. The site should display the VIPPS symbol, which shows it’s a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site. Search for drug assistance programs: If your income is limited, you can probably get help through drug assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations. To find these types of programs use sites like BenefitsCheckUp.org, PatientAdvocate.org, RxAssist.org and NeedyMeds.org. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
18 Publizr Home