LINDEN - Gov. Chris Christie announced to seniors packed into the first floor auditorium of the John Gregorio Tower here that he would be able to maintain pre-budget 2011 prescription drug assistance.

"We will not change PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) or Senior Gold," Christie told the cheering crowd.

Christie explained the course reversal by pointing to "increases in rebate collections from drug manufacturers, higher utilization of generic drugs, expanded eligibility for enrollment in Medicare Part D’s Low Income Subsidy program and manufacturer discounts in Medicare part D 'donut hole.'"

The announcement of $55.5 million restoration for seniors pre-empted plans by Democrats, who are scheduled to pass legislation tomorrow that would restore money eliminated by the cuts and would have enabled them to soak up the applause. 

"I think that's great news for seniors," said Christie,  whose initial fiscal year 2011 budget proposal called on PAAD and Senior Gold beneficiaries to cover the annual deductible of $310 required by Medicare Part D. 

"The proposed budget, moreover, anticipated that the co-payment under PAAD for brand name drugs would increase from $7 to $15. While this move did not impact the lowest income PAAD eligibles, it did call on some New Jersey seniors to share in the many tough choices that impacted even effective and desirable programs," according to the governor's office.

Christie's revised budget would fund the $310 Medicare Part D deductible for those enrolled in PAAD and the Senior Gold program, while restoring funding to keep the co-payment for brand name drugs at seven dollars and reducing the co-payment for generics to five dollars.