A group of long term care providers is calling for the elimination of Medicare Part D co-payments for patients “in certain homes” who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The National Center For Assisted Living and the American Health Care Association, which represent long term care providers, believe that beneficiaries receiving care in certain assisted living facilities and group homes who can’t afford co-payments are adversely affected. From the Senior Journal:

Under Part D, co-payments for dual eligibles are between $1 and $5 dollars per prescription. According to recent studies, the average assisted living resident needs between eight to 10 medications—about the same as nursing facility patients.

Dual eligible beneficiaries in nursing homes are exempted from making co-payments.