Things are looking up for the bill that could lead to more reasonable prescription costs for S.C. seniors. Sponsored by Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, and passed recently by the S.C. House, the bill would create a program for buying drugs in bulk.

The bill got a big boost last week from Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney. Peeler, chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, agreed not to send the bill to a subcommittee, which would have wasted more precious time.

Instead, thanks to Peeler, the full committee will take up the bill, H. 3586, Wednesday morning. Also on the agenda is S. 217, a companion version that Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, introduced earlier this year. If the committee passes the bill to the full Senate unamended, it stands a good chance of becoming law this year.

The "unamended" part is important because the clock on the 2003 session of the General Assembly is winding down. If the Senate amends the bill, it probably would not pass this year, forcing seniors to wait for price relief at least until 2004.

The bill would cost taxpayers nothing; nor would it impose government mandates on pharmaceutical companies. Instead, the bill would empower the S.C. Department of Health and Social Services to create the S.C. Retirees and Individuals Pooling Together for Savings - SCRIPTS - program. It would be open to all South Carolinians 65 and older. Members would pay a fee to cover administrative costs.

Then, the DSS would buy prescription drugs in bulk for resale to program members at cost. The more seniors who take part, the more leverage the DSS would have to reduce bulk-purchase prices.

There's still a danger that pharmaceutical lobbyists could torpedo the bill. Seniors shouldn't celebrate yet.

Those wishing to improve the bill's odds of passage can call Peeler's office at (803) 212-6430 and leave brief, polite messages in support of the bill. With luck, committee members will understand that this bill is too important to the benefit of seniors to delay its passage or kill it.

Seniors need prescription price relief this year.